Sri Lanka to host World Powerlifting

 World Powerlifting Lanka president Dr. Ruwan Paul flanked by Secretary Lt. Cdr. Priyadarshana Jayavardhana (left) and Director of Marketing and International Relations Dr. Dexter Fernando at the Press conference 

Pic by Kushan Pathiraja

By Allaam Ousman 

The World Powerlifting Championship 2025, a landmark event in the global sporting calendar, will be hosted in Sri Lanka for the first time, marking a historic milestone for both the nation and the South Asian region. 

Organised by World Powerlifting Lanka, the official affiliate of the international governing body, the championship will take place from November 28 to 30, at the Vivanta by Taj – Airport Garden, Seeduwa.

The press and media briefing held in Colombo saw the participation of distinguished personalities representing World Powerlifting Lanka. They included Dr. Ruwan Paul, President; Lt. Commander Priyadarshana Jayawardhana (Retd.), Secretary; Rear Admiral Udeni Serasinghe (Retd.), Director; Kamal Addaraarachi, Vice President and renowned Sri Lankan actor; Dr. Dexter Fernando, Director of Marketing and International Relations and Anuj Rehan Michael, Director of Events.

In his welcome address, Lt. Cdr Priyadarshana Jayawardhana emphasised the global significance of the occasion.
“This prestigious event, sanctioned by the global governing body of World Powerlifting, marks a historic chapter in our journey,” he said. “The World Powerlifting Championship 2025 is not merely a sporting competition — it is a celebration of human strength, unity, and determination. It reflects our shared values of fair play, integrity and inclusivity.”

He confirmed that the championship will attract 300 athletes, coaches and officials from over 30 countries.

“We are already equipped with international-standard facilities and additional equipment for the championship is on,” he added. “Our goal is to expand the sport island-wide by establishing at least 25 affiliated clubs — one in every district — from Point Pedro to Dondra Head.”

President Paul described as “the visionary and driving force behind World Powerlifting Lanka”, is an international power-lifter who has represented Australia for over two decades. Dr. Paul combines his expertise in sports science and entrepreneurship to lead a mission aimed at developing a drug-free, inclusive powerlifting community in Sri Lanka.

Outlining the organisation’s vision, he said: “Our aim is to develop a globally recognised community of Sri Lankan power-lifters — unleashing the untapped potential of athletes from every corner of the country, while fostering strength, discipline and international sporting excellence.”

Dr. Paul, who hails from a humble background, shared an emotional reflection on his personal journey

“I remember my school days — I was a slim person, a football and karate player,” he recalled. “My football boots had to be stitched several times. I came from a poor family. My mother brought up four brothers and a sister with great difficulty. So I feel the pulse of the poor people in my village.”

He credited sports for instilling discipline and shaping his life.

“Through sports, we learn discipline. If we have that discipline, our small island will be a beautiful place,” he said. “I started powerlifting in 2019 after realising I could no longer pursue speed-based sports like football and karate. I wanted to give back to the community and help innocent children.”

Dr. Paul, now a successful entrepreneur in Australia, has invested heavily to promote powerlifting in Sri Lanka.

“I have everything today — a house, a hotel, land near the airport, and equipment from Australia,” he said emotionally. “But I still get tears in my eyes when I think of those stitched boots. That’s why I’m here — to give others a hand, to make this sport famous, and to do something good for the children of our villages.”

Dr. Paul reiterated that World Powerlifting Lanka stands firmly for clean and ethical competition.

“We are a completely drug-free organisation. We don’t recommend anyone to take even a single drop,” he stressed. “There are many gyms in Sri Lanka that are not good — there’s no future in that path. We want to change that. This sport is for strong people — Sri Lanka has always produced giants.”

“We have organised three national-level championships this year and in November, the world will come to Sri Lanka,” he announced. “This is our chance to bring glory to our nation and to show the world what Sri Lankan strength truly means.”

Secretary Lt. Cdr Jayawardhana expressed optimism about the event’s broader impact.

“This is both a privilege and a responsibility,” he said. “With Dr. Paul serving as Vice President of the global body, Sri Lanka now has the opportunity to make a lasting mark in world powerlifting. Together, we aim to nurture champions who will represent our nation at the highest levels.”

He officially declared the World Powerlifting Championship 2025 open for global participation and collaboration, inviting sponsors to support the initiative.