Six-member team for SA Cross-Country Meet

Sri Lanka Athletic Team with officials

By Susil Premalal 

The Sri Lanka track and field team, comprising six senior and junior athletes left for Pakistan last night to participate in the South Asian (SA) Cross-Country Championship 2025.

Athletes from seven SA countries including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives will travel to Pakistan for this event, marking a significant milestone for athletics in the country.

The tournament is scheduled to be held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on February 23.
The Sri Lankan team includes six athletes

(three seniors and three juniors) in addition to a manager and coach.

This tournament was scheduled to be held in 2024 but had to be postponed several times due to political instability in Pakistan. 

The special guests of the tournament are Sri Lanka Athletic President Major General (Retired) Palitha Fernando and General Secretary Saman Gunawardena. 

This tournament was last held in India in March 2022 and Sri Lanka finished as the runners-up in both the Women’s and Men’s team events. 

Sri Lanka Athletic Team. (Senior – Men’s 10km): V. Vakshan (Army), Hemantha Kumara (Police) and W. M. N. G. Abeyratne - (Army). (Junior – Men’s (8km): Lahiru Achintha - (St. Aloysius’, Ratnapura), W. H. K. Madushan - (Kamburawala National School), R. Vidushan - (Rajawella Hindu College, Digana), Janz Dissanayake (Coach) and Wasantha Kumara (Manager).