Kotelawala Defence University shooters dominate inaugural Target Sprint Championship
View(s):General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University shooters dominated the inaugural Target Sprint Championship 2025 for university and tertiary education level students with top performances in all three categories of the two-day competition. Organised and conducted by the Academic Air Arms Association (AAAA), the competition attracted 124 participants from 12 institutions at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Security Training School in Colombo 2 on October 4 and 5.
The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University ‘B’ team won the Team Category ahead of University of Kelaniya and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University ‘A’, placed second and third overall respectively. The victorious General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University ‘B’ team included Ahas Weerakoon, J.D.T. Jayawickrama, W.M.L.L.S.N. Walisundara, K.A.S.I.U. Weerakkody, M.M.S. Amavi, W.A.D.A.M. Warnakula, I.P.P.V. Ilankoon, C. Vishvaharan, K.D. Thirimannavithanage and A.D.Y.R. Bimsara.
University of Kelaniya, who finished second overall, was represented by G.P.G.K.T. Dissanayaka, A.U. Dangalla, R.A.R. Madushani, P.G.W.P.L. Ekanayake, H.K.T.N. Nisansala, K.H.K.M. Silva, I.P.B. Weerasuriya, P.M.Y.P.L. Jayamanna, L.C.R. Chadumina and K.P.P. Keerthirathna. Dulaj Karunarathne, P.K.A.L. Wijerathne, S.W.A.N. Kulasooriya, J.M.S.K. Jayasekara, M.G.N. Nuwanidu, Yachira Amayuru, B.M.M. Balachandra, Tharindu Hapuarachchi,
R. Thashinan and G.B.D. Prabhashwara teamed up to help General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University ‘A’ secure the overall third position.
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University shooters topped the Individual categories as well, winning both Male and Female championships. W.A.D.A.M. Warnakula of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University won the Individual Male Category ahead of L.C.R. Chadumina of University of Kelaniya, who was placed second. P.H. Sahan Madhawa of Saegis Campus was placed third.
K.A.S.I.U. Weerakkody contributed General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University to achieve a hat-trick of titles, winning the Individual Female Category. G.P.G.K.T. Dissanayaka of University of Kelaniya was placed second while M.M.S. Amavi of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University completed the podium.
The Target Sprint Shooting Competition 2025 was inaugurated by the Academic Air Arms Association where a combination of 15 shots in target shooting with a 400m sprint tested the participants’ endurance and accuracy. This was the very first occasion, where Target Sprint, a dynamic combination of running and precision shooting, a sport that has already gained international recognition as a modern and exciting sport, was introduced in Sri Lanka.
An institution could nominate 10 competitors with an accompanying official for the competition, where all participants were presented with certificates, in addition to those who won the events. Capt. Harsha S. Weerasuriya, an ISSF Judge and Coach, coordinated the competition, which ended in great success in its introductory edition.
