Army right on target
Sri Lanka Army dominated at the Metallic Silhouette Shooting National Championship 2017 which was conducted by the National Rifle Association at the Negombo Rifle Shooting Range, Katana last week. Over 150 shooters from the Army, Air Force, Police, Special Task Force and Clubs affiliated to the National Rifle Association participated in the championship.
Metallic silhouette shooting is a discipline that involves shooting at steel targets at varying distances with high powered big bore or large calibre and small bore or small calibre firearms.
The championship consisted of the small bore light rifle and the small bore silhouette rifle categories and the aggregate of two. The Sri Lanka Army ‘A’ team emerged victorious, winning the small bore light rifle and the small bore silhouette rifle categories and the aggregate of two with the Sri Lanka Army ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams coming second and third respectively. The Sri Lanka Army shooters also established five new national records at this competition. Captain P.K.J.S. Gayanga was placed overall champion with WO II K.B. Rathwaththe and Major C.S. Rathnayake being placed overall second and third respectively.
In 2016 the Sri Lankan team comprising of shooters from the Sri Lanka Army won the World Championship in South Africa and they hope to repeat their performance at upcoming Metallic Silhouette Shooting Championship to be held in Finland.
The Sri Lanka Army team was coached by Brig Subhashana Welikala under the guidance of success with the shadow partners of Brigadier Senarath Nivunella, Chairman Army Small Arms Association and Brigadier Lal Chandrasiri, Army Small Arms Association.