Dineth Liyanage shatters 22-year-old record

By Susil Premalal

Dineth Liyanage of Weera Keppetipola Central College, Akuramboda, produced a record-breaking performance on the second day of the 93rd Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletic Championship yesterday at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama. 

Competing in the Under-20 boys’ 800m, Liyanage clocked an impressive 1:51.42 seconds, erasing a 22-year-old record set by W.P.G.M. Pushpakumara of Walala A. Ratnayake MMV in 2003 with a time of 1:52.68.

The four-day championship, organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Athletic Association (SLSAA), witnessed a total of nine new meet records being established on its second day alone.

With several fresh performances, the championship highlighted the depth of emerging school-level athletic talent across the country.

Also among the record-breakers were: 

N.R. Ekanayaka of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya (Under-16 Girls 200m – 25.31s, breaking D. Fernando’s 25.61s in 2023).

D. Fernando of Lyceum Wattala (Under-18 Girls 200m – 24.40s, breaking Yamani Dulanjana’s 24.84s in 2015).

C. Imesh of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo (Under-18 Boys 200m – 21.61s, breaking Chalith Piumal’s 21.87s in 2019).

Yasiru Udara of President’s College, Ambagasdowa (Under-16 Boys 800m – 1:57.28, breaking Anishka Gurusingha’s 1:59.02 in 2018).

R. Perera of Lyceum Wattala (Under-18 Boys 800m – 1:52.50, breaking H.D.S. Avishka’s 1:53.66 in 2024).

K.T. Nuhansa of Matara CC (Under-20 Girls 800m – 2:09.01, breaking K.G.D.M.S. Kumarasingha’s 2:12.67 in 2018).

I.D.S.H. Jayasingha of St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena (Under-18 Boys Triple Jump – 15.41m, breaking L.P.G. Dhananjaya’s 15.07m in 2014).

Ayomal Akalanka of Ambagamuwa CC (Under-20 Boys 400m Hurdles – 50.51s, bettering his own record of 52.24s set in 2024).