Shehan and Nimalie best athletes at XXV Southern Province athletics meetaText and picture
K. Shehan Lakshitha and W.K.L.A. Nimalie both representing Hambantota district were adjudged the best athletes at the Southern Province Athletics meet held at the Uyanwatte Stadium Matara. Six new Southern Province records were established while two were equlaled at this year’s meet.
In the men’s events Shehan Lakshitha established a new Sothern Province record of 2.04 metres for the high jump erasing the 2.01metre mark set by B.R.I.U. Kumara (Galle District) in 2014. Isuru Abeynayake (Galle) equalled the 15.20 second record set by V.G. Nuwan Tharanga (Hambantota) for the 110 metre hurdle event in 2004. M.R. Rohana Sisira Kumara of Hambantota district threw the hammer a distance of 43.75 metres to write his name in the record books.
In the women’s events Nimalie set a new Southern Province record of 2:09.60 minutes for the 800metre event to better the 2:10.00 minute time established by M.D. Mangala Priyadarshani in 2006. K. Ishani Anushka of Hambantota district set a new distance of 28.60 metres for the Hammer throw while V.P. Ishara Madhawi of Galle improved on her own record of 2.16 meters for the pole vault set in 2014 with a height of 2.17 metres this year. The women’s 4×400 relay team from Hambantota district comprising of R. Nadeesha, G.A. Shama Dulani, W.P.E.R. Dulakshi and W.K.L.A. Nimalie set a new time of 3:55.6 minutes erasing the 3:57.5 minutes time established by Matara district in 2005. Nimalie equalled her own record time of 56.5 seconds for the 400 metres which she set in 2013.
Galle district accumulated 83 points to Matara district’s 70 and Hambantota districts 57 points to win the men’s athletics championship while Hambantota district won the women’s athletic championship by accumulating 94 points to Galle’s 66 and Matara’s 50.
Southern Province’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Weerasumana Weerasinghe was the chief guest at the awards ceremony.