Kenyan runners, Sri Lankan women dominate Half Marathon

Kenyan runners Kipsang Mooses and Sri Lanka’s Methmi Wijesooriya won the men’s and women’s Janashakthi Life-ICA International Half Marathon respectively last Sunday that was flagged off in Colombo.

According to the organisers, the Indian Cultural Association (ICA), over 2500 runners from 39 countries were in the fray and men’s winner Mooses donated his prize money of Rs. 1 million to the ICA orphanage purification plant.

The event featured three race categories: the 21.1 km Half-Marathon, 10 km Challengers Run and the 5 km Family Run with a total prize purse of Rs. 5.7 million according to the organisers.

The second and third places of the 21 kms race were also taken by Kenyan runners Elias Muthoni and Kiptoo Yebei.

The second and third places of the women’s race were taken by Nayana Sewwandi and Shamini Herath.

The race route covered the city of Colombo and was flagged off before sunrise at 6 am.

According to the organisers, the participants supported ICA’s initiatives, including organ-donation awareness and support for orphanages, combining athletic achievement with social responsibility. 

“The Janashakthi Life - ICA International Half-Marathon is more than a race; it is a celebration of fitness, culture and community impact,” said Captain Banerjee, the President of the ICA Sri Lanka. 

“This year, the event grew in scale and significance, strengthening international camaraderie and delivering tangible benefits to communities across Sri Lanka. We are proud to have had a record-breaking number of participants this year, evidence that the event is going from strength to strength. We are thankful to our main sponsor, Janashakthi Life and all our other sponsors for recognising the scope of this endeavour and for joining hands with us to make it a reality.”

Ravi Liyanage, Director and CEO of Janashakthi Insurance said: “We are proud to support the Janashakthi Life - ICA International Half-Marathon, an event that inspires healthy living and community engagement. This partnership reflects our commitment to empowering communities and promoting positive social change.”