Matara District athletic champions

A. W. Gunawardhane, Matara Central Correspondent

ATHLETICS: Sri Lanka Red Cross National Youth Athletic Meet (2006) was recently held at the Uyanwatte Stadium, Matara.

Matara District Red Cross Youth Branch collected 498 points to become over-all champions, Galle Branch became runner-up with 176 points while the Polonnaruwa Branch with 140 points retained 3rd place.

National Youth Athletic Championship organised by the Youth Department of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS). Over 1000 Red Cross Youth members representing 23 districts, Matara, Galle, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Monaragala, Anuradhapura, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Colombo, Badulla, Trincomalee, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Batticaloa, Gampaha, Puttalam, Colombo City, Kandy, Hambantota, Mannar, Vavuniya and Matale Youth Branches participated in this annual event.

D. B. Madugalle was the Secretary of the Sports Festival organising committee, Patron - Jagath Abeysinghe, Chairman - Bharatha Jonikkuhewa (Vice President SLRCS) members were present at the occasion. Chief Guest was W. P. Manjula Kumara, South Asian Game Record Holder - Asian Championship Gold Medallist.

Results -

Best Athlete Under-16 - Boys

N. G. Purna - Kalutara District, Long Jump - Metre 6.56.

Under 16 - Girls

Sachinie Edirisinghe, Matara District, 100m - 13.4 seconds.

Under 18 - Boys

Gihan Ambepitiya - Colombo District, 100 m - 11 seconds.

Under 18 - Girls

Dulanie Ranaweera - Matara District, 100 m - hurdles 16.2 seconds

Under 20 - Men

Ashan Hasaranga - Galle District, 100 m - 10.98 seconds.

Under 20 - Women

Ereska Sadamalie - Matara District, 400 m - 1 minute and 5.4 seconds.

Under 23 - Men

Lahiru Sampath - Matara District, Long jump - 7.20 m.

Under 23 - Women

H. G. Enocha Chaturanginie - Anuradhapura District, 400 m, 1 minute and 3.4 seconds.