Gold medalists to be rewarded with cash

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Sri Lanka's Gold medalists at the 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championships, athletes Shivanthi Rathnayaka of Kegalle St. Joseph's Balika and runner-up Dulaj Madhushankha of Pasyala Central College, would receive cash rewards of Rs 1.5 million each today, to build their own homes.

Athletes Shivanthi and Dulaj, who won gold medals in the 400 metre sprint event at the 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championships 2012 held in Colombo last year, would receive the cash donations from Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa at Sethsiripaya, in Battaramulla. The rewards comes courtesy of the Ocean View Company that had provided Rs 3 million for this purpose on a request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President had presented Shivanthi and Dulaj, each with a deed for a house and Rs 500, 000 each at Temple Trees where he felicitated the winners with cash and other rewards.

Housing Ministry sources said, the Ministry had been instructed to provide all necessary technical assistance and guidelines to the athletes free of charge. The houses would be constructed under Ministry supervision.