Deyata Kirula cycling:

Sudheera wins stage I

Anuradha ABEYSEKERA

Sudheera Nilanga of Sri Lanka Police won the first stage of the Deyata Kirula Cycle Race after a close contest where the first three cyclists completed the race in a bunch, recording the same timing, 4 hours 03 minutes and 16 seconds.

Shiran Nadeera of Air Force finished in second while Army’s Sameera Chathuranga won the third place of the first stage.

Altogether 93 cyclists participated in the fist stage which commenced from Carlton House, Tangalle with Telecommunication and Information Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa delivering starter’s orders. Cyclists rode nearly 160kms from Tangalle to Awissawella passing Weeraketiya, Middeniya, Embilipitiya, Ratnapura, Kuruvita and Eheliyagoda. The average speed of the first stage has been 39.33 kmph.

The sprint award of the first stage was won by Sameera Chathuranga of the Army.

The Deyata Kirula race will comprise three stages covering 390 kms and the second stage will be worked off today from Ruwanwella to Matale via Karawanella, Yatiyantota, Kithulgala, Ginigathhena, Nawalapitiya, Gampola, Peradeniya, Katugastota and will be completed in front of the Matale Police Station.