Janaka and Inoka take shooting titles

Lt. Col. Janaka Ritigahapola, Sri Lanka Army - Winner Open Division, Men	Sergeant Inoka Weerasinghe, Sri Lanka Air Force - Winner Open Division, Women

The International Practical Shooting Confederation of Sri Lanka (IPSC-SL) which is affiliated to the National Rifle Association of Sri Lanka (NRA-SL) conducted its 15th National Championships at Hantane, Kandy.Lt. Col. Janaka Ritigahapola emerged the undisputed National IPSC Champion in the Open Division, having won the Title on 08 occasions, last 03 years consecutively, since the inception of IPSC Nationals in 1991.

In the Ladies Category of the Open Division, Sgt. Inoka Weerasinghe of the Air Force retained her National Title which she had won on 06 occasions in the past. Sgt. Kamal Podimahattaya and Sgt. Chaminda Prasad of the SL Army finished as National Champions in the Standard and Production Divisions respectively.

The Junior Category (under 21) in Open Division was won by Yohann Fernando, the Skipper of the Thomian 1st XV Rugby Team this year. In the Senior Category (over 50) in the Open Division, CI Gratian Walter of the STF was the winner.

The Team Championships of all 03 Divisions were retained by the SL Army, whilst the Ladies Category has been dominated by the SL Air Force for several years. The Police and the Navy are yet to get their act together to be capable of offering any serious challenge to the Army and the Air Force.

The National IPSC Team will be leaving on the 2nd December, to participate in the Austral-Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, where over 600 Shooters from about 20 different Countries are expected to participate. According to Capt. (Rtd.) Sarath de Zoysa who has been coaching the National IPSC Team for the last 18 years, the Sri Lankan IPSC Shooters have won numerous Individual and Team Trophies, including the Austral-Asian Championship, in International competitions in the past and are currently rated amongst the best 03 teams in Austral-Asia, along with the Philippines and Australia.