Akalanka Best Athlete at Junior Nationals

 Age group champions with SLA officers

By Susil Premalal

Promising young athlete Ayomal Akalanka of Ambagamuwa Central College won the Best Performer Award at the 65th Junior National Athletic Championships 2025, which concluded at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama yesterday.
Akalanka was also named the Best Athlete in the Boys’ U-20 category as he powered his way to win the 400m hurdles final with a time of 50.52s.
Meanwhile, 34 new meet records were established at this four-day meet, which was conducted by Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA).

CHALLENGE TROPHIES:
Best Athlete Girls’ U-16: Dilni Rajapaksha (Lyceum, Wattala) - Long jump 5.96m NMR
Best Athlete Boys’ U-16: Deneth Kausith (D. S. Senanayake, Colombo) – Discus Throw 50.85m
Best Athlete Girls’ U-18: Dhananjana Fernando (Lyceum, Wattala) – 200m 24.45s NMR
Best Athlete Boys’ U-18: Bimsara Ekanayaka (Dharmapala, Pannipitiya) – 110m hurdles 14.08s NMR
Best Athlete Girls’ U-20: Takshima Nuhansa (Matara CC) 400m 55.03s
Best Athlete Boys’ U-20: Ayomal Akalanka (Ambagamuwa CC) 400m hurdles 50.20s NMR
Best Athlete Girls’ U-23: Nethmika Herath (Sri Lak Athletic Club) - Triple Jump 13.03m w+0.7
Best Athlete Boys’ U-23: Rumesh Tharanga (Air Force) - Javelin Throw 82.93m NMR
Best Performer of the Meet: Ayomal Akalanka (Ambagamuwa CC) – 400m hurdles 50.20s NMR