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Dejan Sri Lanka's youngest double international
By M. Shamil Amit
To become a double international as a 19-year-old schoolboy is something special. But for young Dejan de Zoysa the Thomian schoolboy this has been a challenge, which he has faced successfully so far.

Dejan at this young age has represented the Sri Lanka rowing team at various international meets. And at present he is brushing shoulders with some of the top and more experienced drivers in the 2005 Formula BMW Asia series.

Beginning his sporting career as a 12 year old kid winning the Caltex Open Prokart championship defeating senior drivers a few years back. This talented racing driver has taken the sport by storm after having raced alongside Go-Kart stars Yoga Perera and Romani de Silva at international meets.

This experience helped him to move into big time racing and at the age of 16 became Formula Ford winner at Pannala and then at Katukurunda. At 19 he has gone a step further to become the first Sri Lankan to drive for the Minardi Team Asia in the 2005 Formula BMW Asia series.

On the Beira waters he rowed for S.Thomas' Mt Lavinia and led the team last year and clinched all the titles that were on offer, including the nationals. He went on to represent his motherland at rowing at the SAF Games held in Islamabad last year where he won two silver medals. He was awarded the "Thomian Blue" in 2003, the highest sporting award of and was awarded the prestigious Oarsman of Year 2004 by the Rowing Club.

Dejan has already participated in four stages of the 14-stage event and is lying sixth overall. He was unfortunate in the third and fourth held in Malaysia early this month as his vehicle engine gave way and he had to pull out. His next event will be held in Thailand next month, which is the fifth and sixth stage. He is capable of performing better when the races go beyond the halfway stage.

Dejan needs a considerable amount of finance to participate in the 14 events, which according to information works to around $200 million. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, along with minister of sports Jeewan Kumaratunge and deputy ministers Arjuna Ranatunge and Duminda Dissanayake have made personal appeals to the mercantile and government sector to support Dejan who has already proved that he is a national asset and ambassador of sport for his country who carries the Sri Lankan flag and the logos of the sponsorship received so far.

Like a duck taking to the water, Dejan has shown his talent and capabilities in two of the toughest sport anyone would think of participating. Come what may young Dejan is prepared to face the challenge and bring honour to his motherland.

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