Bodybuilding adds colour to Air Force

Dilanka Mannakkara

The Sri Lankan Air Force came out with flying colours at the recently concluded 50th annual Novices Bodybuilding championship by clinching four gold medals out of a total of 8 weight categories. They also managed to win a silver medal. The Air Force entered the bodybuilding scene barely four months ago when their fellow rivals, the Army and the Navy were dictating terms.

Due to the war situation which lasted for several decades the Air Force could not fully concentrate on bodybuilding as a sport and did not participate in many bodybuilding competitions. They made a comeback in 2009 and in their debut appearance in the 55th annual National Body Building Championships 2009 the Air Force stole the show as they won 8 out of the 9 gold medals.

According to Wing Commander Senaka Fernandopulle, Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonethilaka was instrumental in starting a bodybuilding academy within the Air Force itself. In 2009 bodybuilding was resurrected in Air Force as Wing Commander Senaka was appointed to lead the Bodybuilding academy with Sqd Leader Viranga Premawardena, Flying Lieutenant Jude Kuruvitarachchci and Flight Sergeant Janaka Perera supporting him.

They conducted an island wide talent scout as they called up for interviews for bodybuilders. The response was overwhelming and they had to carefully select the best and the most deserving candidates. The team led by Wing Commander Senaka recruited some of the best bodybuilders in the country and wanted to support them financially as well as most of them were from low income households and were finding it hard to continue bodybuilding without a much needed sponsor.

They recruited 20 young bodybuilders and the selected privileged athletes were very much attracted to the package offered to them by the Air Force. The bodybuilders did not have second thoughts in signing on as they knew that the Air Force which has been renowned to support sportsmen would support them and provide them with allowances and food supplements. It turned out to be a fruitful decision as some of the promising bodybuilders who didn’t even have a stable job and were all most on the verge of giving up bodybuilding were benefited immensely by this move.

Wing Commander Senaka also mentioned that the bodybuilders receive an airmen’s salary and on top of that are given a monthly food allowance,a nutritional supplement allowance and other allowances. Vajira Hewamarabage a former athlete and an experienced bodybuilding instructor was also recruited as the coach for the bodybuilding pool.

Vajira who joined the Air Force in the year 2009 said that he trains the bodybuilders using the latest coaching techniques and uses modern equipment and weight training facilities provided by the Air Force. Vajira who has had vast experience in the field of bodybuilding has identified several hidden talents and has provided them with the opportunity of joining the Air Force to realize their body building dream.

A prime example is Athula Fernando who won the 55 kg weight category in the Novices Championship. Athula who was an ex-carpenter by profession was identified by Vajira and was brought in to the Air Force. He joined the Air Force in 2009 and is one of the most promising bodybuilders in the 55kg category and hopes to win a medal in the upcoming National Bodybuilding Championships.

Rangana Fernando the winner of 60 kg event hails from a small village in Ja Ela, namely Kudahapola and was doing various odd jobs until he joined the Air Force bodybuilding pool in 2009.In his debut event Rangana managed to win a gold medal at the Novices Championships and is grateful for the Air Force Bodybuilding coaching staff and administration.

Twenty three year old Udaya Kumara who won the 65 kg event is another top bodybuilder in the making and is a newcomer to the Air Force bodybuilding pool. Udaya Kumara who was also identified as a promising athlete by Vajira and Flying Sergeant and team manager Janaka Perera was a standout performer at the Novices championships, His future dream is to win a medal at the National Championships and also represent Sri Lanka at International bodybuilding events.

Dharshana Fernando who is also another gold medalist at the novices championships previously had won the third place in the Junior Mr. Sri Lanka contest but his real potential was unleashed when he joined the Air Force in 2009. In a short span of 3 months time he won the gold medal in the 70 kg category and is very happy with his career at Air Force.

Sgt. Luxman who won the Silver medal in the 85 kg weight category is a proud product of the Air Force itself. He joined the Air Force in 1993 and did occasional bodybuilding training. In 2009 coach Vajira realized his potential and recruited him for the bodybuilding pool and immediate success followed Luxman as he won the Silver medal in his maiden appearance in bodybuilding at the Novices championships. Sgt Luxman is given special permission by the Air Force to continue bodybuilding while serving the Air Force as a fire fighter.

Air Force though being a new kid on the block in bodybuilding has dominated the body building industry in Sri Lanka within a very short time period and wants to maintain its huge success rate in the future body building events. Wing Commander Senaka also said”we want to develop an inter-Air Force body building Championship and with the backing and support we get from the Commander Roshan Goonethilaka himself and the Sports counsel Secretary Group Captain Roshan Viyangoda we will be able to achieve even more successes in the near future.