Western Province win five golds

Western Province dominated National Sports Festival which concluded at Kataragama on Sunday. They won five gold medals in the marathon, walking race and cycling men and women's events.

A soldier from the Singha Regiment, Tissa Gunasekara won the men's marathon on his debut in a time of two hours 26 minutes and 39 seconds after the champion marathon runner Ajith Bandara pulled out due to back injury. Ajith Ratnayake (2:28:50 seconds) and Chathuranga Fernando (2:29:56 seconds) finished second and third respectively in the men's marathon. Central Province won the Gold medal in the women's marathon.Central Province athlete Anuradhi Bogahawatte won the women's marathon in a time of two hours 58 minutes and three seconds to win the women's marathon, edging out former national champion D.A.Inoka at Kataragama on Sunday. Inoka also from Central Province finished second in a time of two hours 58 minutes and 42 seconds followed by Western Province's M.S.T.N.Perera in a time of three hours one minute and 36 seconds.

Jeevan Jayasinghe of Western Province won the men's cycling event in a time of four hours 11 minutes and 53 seconds with Wayamba's Buddhika Warnakulasooriya (4:11:53) and NCP's Nalinda Amila Kumara(4:11:52) finishing second and third respectively. Niluka Shyamalee of Western Province won the Women's cycling event in a time of one hour 44 minutes and 59 seconds followed by NCP's Sriyalatha Wickramasinghe and Wayamba's Dinesha Dilrukshi both of whom clocked one hour 45 minutes and 11 seconds.

Akila Channa Fernando of Western Province won the men's walking race in a time of one hour 36 minutes and two seconds while the women's walking race was won by Western Provinces Geetha Nandani in a time of one hour 55 minutes and 29 seconds.