The Sri Lanka contingent to China.

Without much prospect of a reasonable yield, the twenty two strong Sri Lankan Athletic contingent is scheduled to leave the island today to take part in the 18th Asian Athletic Championships which will be held in Guangzhou, China from 10 November.

Though the 1500metres runner Chaminda Wijekoon, who has been training in Kenya, is the only athlete who really has qualified to take in these games Sri Lanka has got the opportunity of sending another twenty one under the prevailing quota system. Kumara has won several gold medals at various international events in the recent past.

Besides Chaminda, high jumper Manjula Kumara, who is currently training in the Unites States, joined the Lankan contingent without facing the qualifying trials.

It is also noteworthy that former 400metres champions Prasanna Amerasekera who is facing charges of violating Emigration and Immigration rules and was in remand custody for over one year is also a part of this tour party to China. It is learned that Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge initially had turned down his selection, but, on a plea made on his behalf by the SLAAA, the minister withdrew his ruling. In his past appearances, Amerasekera has won 5 gold medals and two silver medals at the Asian Championships. This is the first Asian Athletics Championships that is being held since the retirement of Susanthika Jayasinghe who retired from competitive athletics recently. At the last games held in Jordan she bagged two golds. At the last games Sri Lanka bagged three Golds and 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals in all. It is also learned the Chaminda Wijekone will act as the leader of the Lankan team at this meet.

In the seventeen games held so far Sri Lanka has bagged medals at ten events with the highest of 4 Golds at the Year 2000 meet held in Djakarta.