National racing champs rewarded

Chinthana WASALA

National motor racing champions were announced at the National Championship Awards Presentation Ceremony organized by the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) at a glamorous event in Boralesgamuwa on Thursday night.

Upulwan Serasinghe

Dinesh Deheragoda

The ceremony was attended by the racing drivers and riders who entertained the crowd over the past year. Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Sports Director General Ranjani Jayakody were the chief guest and guest of honour.

The man of the night was Sri Lanka's most celebrated driver Dilantha Malagamuwa. Minister Aluthgamage commending Malagamuwa's achievements, said: "My friend Dilantha is probably the biggest asset for up in the field of racing as of now and we should do our best to produce new Malagamuwas and groom them to become future stars in the international arena."

Dinesh Deheragoda, Ashan Silva and Upulwan Serasinghe won two awards each. Deheragoda was the champion in the Open Rally category and the joint champ in the SL-GT 3500 cc class on gravel tracks along with Pasindu Peiris.

Silva won the SLGT-3500cc class in the hill climb category and also the SLH-1600cc champion on gravel tracks. Serasinghe won the SLN 1300cc and 1600cc classes.

Dilan Senevirathne was the SLH-1600cc champion in the hill climb category.

Nine-year-old Jaden Gunawardena emerged the standard 125cc champion while Sheron Fernando was the standard 250cc champion.

Suraj Perera won the group SM 450cc category while Shehan C Adhikari and Gayan Sandaruwan won the Group MX 85cc-150cc and 125cc-250cc categories.

The sports minister also highlighted the importance of giving the young stars the necessary exposure to reach new heights in Sri Lanka's motor racing. He also said a new racing track will be built at Nawalapitiya by April. The new city that will be built in the sea, next to Galle Face, will also include a grade 'B' formula track, Minister Aluthgamage said.