Rasara Wijesuriya bags first Gold

By Susil Premalal

Rasara Wijesuriya

Rasara Wijesuriya of the Eastern Province won the first gold medal in athletics at the 49th National Sports Festival (NSF) track and field events yesterday.

Wijesuriya, a student of the University of Kelaniya, clocked 35:32.99 to win the gold medal in the women’s 10,000m. The silver medal went to HMCS Herath of the Central Province while the bronze was secured by BMN Sewwandi of the Western Province.

Neshara Daksitha of the Northern Province set the only new meet record on the opening day by clearing 3.52m in the women’s pole vault, breaking her own previous NSF record of 3.51m established in 2024.

The Games, with the participation of more than 1,000 athletes representing all provinces, were declared open yesterday at the Galle Dadella District Sports Complex under the patronage of Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage and Deputy Minister Sugath Thilakaratne. The closing ceremony will be held tomorrow under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival was ceremonially opened with the traditional Olympic torch lighting by veteran badminton player Niluka Karunaratne (London Olympics 2012) and former athlete Tamara Samandipika (Sydney Olympics 2000), both from the Southern Province who represented Sri Lanka at the Olympic Games.

The 2025 NSF, organized by the Ministry of Sports and the Department of Sports Development, features competitions in 33 sporting disciplines.

Results – Day One

Women’s 10,000m

Gold: Rasara Wijesuriya (Eastern) – 35:32.99

Silver: H.M.C.S. Herath (Central) – 37:03.20

Bronze: B.M.N. Sewwandi (Western) – 37:13.92

Women’s Javelin Throw

Gold: Dilhani Lekamge (Sabaragamuwa) – 55.61m

Silver: D.M.I. Hasanthi (Eastern) – 52.21m

Bronze: H.P.D.H. Maduwanthi (Uva) – 50.26m

Men’s 5000m

Gold: V. Vakshan (Central) – 15:00.72

Silver: I. Vikirthan (Northern) – 15:02.48

Bronze: H.D.S.D. Gunasekara (Western) – 15:15.09

Women’s Long Jump

Gold: H.M.N.M. Herath (Uva) – 6.09m

Silver: R.D. Sithmini (Western) – 5.95m

Bronze: G.I.S. Lankathilaka (North Central) – 5.69m

Women’s Pole Vault

Gold: Neshara Daksitha (Northern) – 3.52m (New Meet Record)

Silver: K.A.C.K. Kodithuwakku (Central) – 3.10m

Bronze: P. Abishalini (Northern) – 3.10m

400m Mixed Relay

Gold: Western Province

Silver: Southern Province

Bronze: North Western Province