Karunaratne 4 SL records

K. M. Karunaratne from Kandy District established 4 Sri Lanka records in 100, 200, 400 metre events as well as 300 metre hurdles in the 70 age group at the Masters Games held recently at the Bogambara grounds, Kandy.

He improved his own Sri Lanka records in all 4 events when he competed in the under 70 age group.

Popularly known as Karu among friends, so far he has won 125 gold medals, 40 silver medals and 15 bronze medals at the National and International Masters Athletic competitions.

Some of the victories he has achieved are as follows: In 1994 at the Veterans Games in Sri Lanka representing 55 to 59 age group he has won the 100, 200, 400 m. and long jump and set Sri Lankan records in all 4 events.

In the year 2002 at the veterans meet held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia he represented 60 to 65 age group and won gold medals for 100, 200, 400 m events and long jump and he also helped his team to win the 4 x 400 relay event.

In the year 2005, he also represented at the World Masters Track and Field Games held in Spain unsuccessfully.

Now he is preparing for the selection meet to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Masters Games to he held in Malaysia in November this year. Trials for this meet will be in mid July, 2010.

Presently he is the President of the Central Province Veterans Athletic Association.

An old boy of Amunugama Maha Vidyalaya and Daskara Maha Vidyalaya, two rural schools, he joined Sri Lanka Army in 1961 where he climbed the ladder of success in sports such as athletics, swimming, football and basketball.

After serving the SL army, he concentrated only in athletics, in which he excelled and continued this sport in an outstanding manner.

He said that the Army training and discipline helped him to become successful in life and when asked the type of advice he would give to the present day youth, he said that to continue in any sport one must go the full distance without stopping halfway.

He said that the present day youth stop whatever sport they are involved in at the age of 35, whereas in most of the other countries age is not a barrier to do sports.