Dharmawardhana best judoka for 10th year running

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lankan judo Olympian Chamara Dharmawardhana etched his name deeper into local sports history by claiming the Best Male Judoka award for the tenth consecutive time at the National Sports Festival (NSF). 
The event, organised by the Ministry of Sports and the Department of Sports Development, was held at the Royal MAS Indoor Stadium.
Joining him in the spotlight was Kalpani Jayawira, an internationally recognized athlete, who was awarded the Best Female Judoka title. Dharmawardhana competed in the Under-73kg men’s category while Jayawira showcased her skills in the Under-57kg women’s division, both earning top honours based on their outstanding performances.
In team results, Central Province dominated the judo events, securing the overall championship with a total of 22 medals—11 golds, eight silvers and three bronze medals—across both men’s and women’s divisions. The women’s team alone contributed four golds, four silvers and three bronze medals while the men’s contingent added seven golds and four silvers to the tally.
North Western Province secured second place, collecting one gold, two silvers and five bronze medals. Uva Province followed in third place, also earning one gold, two silvers and four bronze medals, equalling the total medal count with North Western but finishing behind due to fewer gold medals.