Chandima of Leeds IS, Galle becomes the youngest to skydive from 12,000 feet
View(s):Chandima Parasathu Wijetunga became the youngest Sri Lankan to skydive from a height of 12,000 feet, when he achieved this feat at the ‘Sky Fever Festival’ in Koggala. Chandima, 16, a student of Leeds International School in Galle, achieved this at the Air Force Base in Koggala witnessed by thousands of sports enthusiasts.
Chandima’s parents Nishantha P. and Nilanthi Wijetunga, who owns a tourist hotel in Galle, granted his wish to skydive as a present for his 16th birthday. According to the norms of the sport, the athlete should reach the height on a special plane and reach the designated height of 12,000 feet and jump off with the support of an experienced skydiving instructor. Both the divers then ascend at a great speed of over 100 kilometres per hour until they reach 5000 feet to open up the parachute.
“The Sky Fever Festival was on for around 11 days just in the vicinity of my house at the Koggala Air Base. Most of the skydivers who came down to take part were staying in our house and I began to like the sport after having little chats with them. Also seeing what was taking place for days made me attract to it more. And my parents surprised me by presenting an opportunity to skydive on my birthday. It was a wonderful experience,” Chandima stated after his epic dive.
Further explaining on the skydive experience, Chandima went on to say that he was proud to be a member among 200 Sri Lankans and 16 Chinese, who were able to have a first glimpse of a gigantic jump from a great height.
“I took my dive with a well experienced skydiving instructor, Mr. Grig Philips. I was attached on to the special plane from inside through iron hooks. Philips was right behind me holding me right throughout the dive. I was able to witness the beauty of my hometown from up above, as the plane went across Koggala, Weligama, Akmeemana and Galle towns to reach 12,000 feet. The moment the plane reached that height Philips instructed me to crawl back to the door and put both feet out of the door. I was a bit nervous at that moment,” he added.
Chandima with his instructor, Frenchman Grig Philips midway of the dive
“But I took courage, as I was longing for this moment and I didn’t want anything to spoil it. At that moment we began to fall and it the speed was immense. I didn’t feel worried because I had Philips right at my back. After we reached 5000 feet Philips opened the parachutes and he controlled it smoothly until we landed safely. It was a memorable day for me,” Chandima added with excitement.
Skydiving is a adventure sport popular across the world for decades but in Sri Lanka the sport was introduced in 2016 by Wing Commander Asanka Witharana. Sri Lanka became the only country in the Asian region next to Thailand and Dubai to embrace the sport with the addition of being a tourist attraction.
“I’m doing my best to popularise skydiving in Sri Lanka since 2016. We started off in 2016 as a pilot project in Habarana, and there were over 400 athletes present for that. It was overwhelming for the start. In 2017 we managed to allocate around 20 acres in Habarana and expand the sport further. As a result we were able to give the divers the experience of spotting the Sigiriya rock during the fall and this became a popular attraction. Targeting tourism we could do wonders with this sport, but then again we need government support to do that. Our videos have gone across the world and as a result the Retired American Military personnel have visited the country for skydiving. At present we are being supported by the American Parachute Association to popularise the sport in Sri Lanka,” Wing Commander Witharana stated.
With Chandima’s feat skydiving is expected to reach the younger crowd, who are eager to open their hearts to adventure.
- Text and pix Gamini Mahadura