Deneth and Dilni U-16 Best Athletes at Junior Nationals

By Susil Premalal

Deneth Kausith of D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo and Dilni Rajapaksa of Lyceum, Wattala were selected as the Under-16 Boys’ and Girls’ Best Athletes at the 65th Junior National Athletic Championships 2025 held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama.

This tournament was held under four age groups: Under-16, Under-18, Under-20 and Under-23 Boys and Girls.

Kausith won the Boy’s discus throw with an effort of 50.85 metres while Dilni won the Girl’s long jump with a performance of 5.96m.

New meet records:
Under-23 Men’s 200m 21.34s R. Indusara Vidushan (Track Masters SC)
Under-23 Men’s javelin throw 82.93m P. R. Tharanga (Air Force)
Under-23 Men’s discus throw 47.50m S. K. Mithunraj (Army)
Under-23 Men’s hammer throw 43.26m S. K. Mithunraj (Army)
Under-20 Men’s 200m 21.23s Idupa Silva (Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte)
Under-20 Men’s 400m 46.46s Ayomal Akalanka (Ambagamuwa CC)
Under-20 Men’s 400m hurdles 50.20s Ayomal Akalanka (Ambagamuwa CC)
Under-20 Men’s 3,000m 8 minutes 32.7 seconds Ilango Vikirthan (Poovarasankulam MV, Vavuniya)
Under-20 Men’s 3,000m steeplechase 9:25.81 Ilango Vikirthan (Poovarasankulam MV, Vavuniya)
Under-20 Men’s hammer throw 41.50m Vimalathas Nitharsan (Hartley College, Point Pedro)
Under-18 Boys’ 400m 47.58s I. M. Bogoda (Sir John Kotelawala MV)
Under-18 Boy’s 1,500m 4:00.47 Lahiru Achintha (St. Aloysius’ College, Ratnapura)
Under-18 Boy’s 110m hurdles 14.08s Pawan Ekanayaka (Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya)
Under-18 Boy’s triple jump 15.50m J. L. Jenkins (St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy)
Under-18 Boy’s 3,000m 8:42.85 Lahiru Achintha (St. Aloysius’ College, Ratnapura)
Under-16 Boy’s 100m hurdles 13.17s W. D. N. D. Fernando (St. Mary’s College, Chilaw)
Under-16 Boy’s 300m hurdles 39.73s M. W. N. E. Silva (St. Mary’s College, Chilaw)
Under-16 Boy’s hammer throw 40.68m S. M. Karunarathne (Taxila Central College)
Under-23 Girl’s 400m hurdles 1:00.41 L. G. A. Sathsarani (Air Force)
Under-23 Girl’s long jump 6.02m I. S. W. Arachchi (Army)
Under-20 Girl’s pole vault 3.40m Selvarasa Nirusika (Arunodaya College, Alaveddy)
Under-18 Girl’s 100m (heats) 12.02s Dhananjana Fernando 
(Lyceum, Wattala)
Under-18 Girl’s 200m 24.45s Dhananjana Fernando (Lyceum, Wattala)
Under-18 Girl’s 1,500m 4:33.85 Tharushi Abhisheka (Wickramabahu CC, Gampola)
Under-18 Girl’s high jump 1.74m Mihinsa Abeyrathna (President’s College, Ratnapura)
Under-18 Girl’s triple jump 12.44m Dilki Nehara (Sri Sumangala BMV, Panadura)
Under-18 Girl’s hammer throw 40.81m Shalomi Jayakodi (Taxila CC)
Under-16 Girl’s 400m 57.33s Chenadi Bendarage (Gamini National School, Bentota)
Under-16 Girl’s 100m hurdles 15.31s Lakshya Sandali (Royal International, Kurunegala)
Under-16 Girl’s 300m hurdles 45.99s G. R. Dharmadasa (St. Joseph’s Balika Vidyalaya, Kegalle)
Under-16 Girl’s 3,000m 17:33.6 Lehara Samindi (Galle District Athletic Association)
Under-16 Girl’s long jump 5.96m Dilni Rajapaksa (Lyceum, Wattala)
Under-16 Girl’s shot put 12.68m Dilki Karunarathne (Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo)
Under-16 Girl’s triple jump 11.66m Dilni Rajapaksa (Lyceum, Wattala)
Equal Meet Records: Under-23 Men’s triple jump 16.13m Malith Yasiru (Army)