Nadeeka and Gunasekera top army athletes
View(s):The Army Colours Night 2013 with its theme, reconciliation through sports, was held at the BMICH in Colombo on Friday.
The event was held to present colours and laurels to those who outshone in the field of sports representing Sri Lanka Army in front of a large audience.
Best Sportswoman Nadeeka Lakmali recieves her award - Pic by Mangala Weerasekara
Warrant Officer 1 Nadeeka Lakmalee, the national record holder in javelin emerging the Best Sportswoman of the Year while Lance Corporal W.L. Gunasekara, who made the country proud in Wushu was named the Best Sportsman of the Year. Special cash rewards of Rs 1 million each were awarded to long distance runner Lance Corporal D.A. Inoka and Warrant Officer 1 Pushpamalee Ramanayake a rifle shooter, both of Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps and Staff Sergeant Pradeep Sanjaya, a middle distance runner who excelled in Para Sports.
A total of 739 athletes who excelled in archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, cricket, cycling, para archery, para power lifting, para athletics, wheelchair marathon, handball, hockey, judo, Kabaddi, karate, motor sports, weightlifting, power lifting, rugby, rowing, shooting, soccer, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, wushu and volleyball received Army Colours.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Secretary to the Defence and Urban Development Ministry graced the occasion as the chief guest, while the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Ioma Rajapaksa and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage also graced the occasion.