Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka makes maiden appearance
The first official Sri Lanka surfing team on their departure to India
The newly formed Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka (SFSL) will make its maiden international tour as an official unit at the forthcoming Covelong Point Surfing Championships in Chennai, India, from August 16-19.
This is the first time a National team is participating in an overseas championship, after all local Surfers were brought under one umbrella, via the Federation.
Sri Lanka’s first-ever National Surf competitions were held in Hikkaduwa and Kabalana in early 2018, and was instrumental in building a National ranking table. Of the 76 contenders, the 5 highest ranking Surfers in each of the competitions will fly to India on August 15.
The Sri Lanka team comprises Praneeth Sandaruwan (Captain), Milan Andra Hennadige (Vice Captain) A.H Siril, Anandarasa Anusanth, Lesitha Prabath all of Arugambay Surf Club, Nadeen Sampath (Mambos Surf Club Hikkaduwa), Pradeep Kumara (Reef End Surf Club Hikkaduwa) and Lakshitha Madushan (Weligama Surf Club). P.G Sandika Thushara will be the Manager.
Additionally, Lahiru Wijesekara and Kelum Nanayakkara, who were in the Panel of Judges for the Hikkaduwa and Kabalana competitions, will join the Surf team as invitees of the organisers, to officiate at the event.
The SFSL was formed with assistance from Tim Jones of International Surf Association (ISA), who is also the advisor to SFSL. Jones also played a major role for the National Olympic Committee’s backing to SFSL. The introduction of Surfing as an official Olympic event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the chance of competing in it, served as a driving force to set up the SFSL and a National Surf team.
“One day Sri Lanka will send a Surfer to the Olympics. Until that dream comes true, Sri Lanka’s Surfers need to stay committed to training and development, and enhance their skills and technique. This will keep their momentum and competency levels high. In time, we will hopefully beat the top Surfing nations,” said SFSL President Hiran Ukwatte.
Ukwatte added that Sri Lanka’s next target, before the 2024 Olympics, is to compete in the ISA World Championships and the World Surf League (WSL) qualifying series. The Covelong Point Surfing Championships has been held annually since 2013, and has attracted Surfers worldwide.