Shooting: Army and Navy win top awards at NSSF Awards Ceremony

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) with 11Gold, bagged the overall championship, pushing Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) with 9 Gold, into the runners-up slot at the annual Awards Ceremony of the National Shooting Sports Federation (NSSF), held at the Raffles Residence, Kotte, last Wednesday (21). 

Among other top achievers were the Army's M.P. Pathirana and the Navy's H.D.P. Kumara, who won Best Shooter in the Pistol and Rifle categories, respectively. 

Veteran markswoman Ruwini Abeymanna of Negombo Rifle Club was Best among Women Pistol shooters, while Navy's Kavindi Perera was Best among Women Rifle shooters. 

Three Shooters, all Women, established 3 new Women's National records. They were Navy's Kavindi Perera- 50metre Rifle 3x20, and Sanduni Perera- 50metre Rifle Prone and Army's Jessica Madishani- 10m Air Rifle Women. 

Over 500 Shooters attended the event at which Minister of Sports, Dayasiri Jayasekara was the Chief Guest. 

While Minister Jayasekara pledged his support to Shooting sports, in a bid for Sri Lanka to qualify for the 2020 Olympics, NSSF President, Shirantha Peiris was overwhelmed at being able to host a successful awards ceremony, and looking forward to take the sport to another level in the coming years, with development programmes planned. 

"The NSSF intends to send our Shooters overseas for training, mainly targeting the Olympics. There is also a plan drawn up to establish 10-Lane Shooting Ranges in all provinces by next year, apart from the upcoming National Shooting Range in Battaramulla. 

All these are planned with the objective of winning medals at international level, particularly at the Olympics," Peiris, a recipient of two awards himself, stated. 

A total of 107 awards- 93 Individual, 12 Tteam and 2 Overall were presented at the event. 

The NSSF intends to conduct a comprehensively planned events programme in 2017, according to its President, Peiris. 

Junior 10m Air Rifle Men 
Gold: Y.D.W. de Silva (SL Schools) 
Silver: E. Thotawatta (Cambrians) 
Bronze: D.C. Weeraratne (NRC) 

Youth 10m Air Pistol Women 
Gold: C.I. Kandawinna (SL Schools) 
Silver: M. Jayasundara (SL Schools) 
Bronze: A.G.R.A.S. Gamage (SL Schools) 

10m Air Pistol Men 
Gold: R.A.N.A.J. Ranasingha (SL Schools) 
Silver: S. Fernando (Cambrians) 
Bronze: S.D. Samarasekara (SL Schools) 

10m Air Rifle Women 
Gold: P.K.L. Pasqual (SL Schools) 
Silver: V. Krishneetha (Magnum) 
Bronze: S.A.G.R. Sirimanne (SL Schools) 

10m Air Rifle Men 
Gold: A. Dabukola (SL Schools) 
Silver: S.M.C.S. Senanayake (Athugala) 
Bronze: V. Peiris (SL Schools) 

10m Air Rifle Women 
Gold: K.K.G. Perera (SLN) 
Silver: W.M.S.Y. Perera (SLN) 
Bronze: W.G.J. Madushani (SLA) 

10m Air Rifle Men 
Gold: W.A.J.R. Hemachandra (SLA) 
Silver: H.D.P. Kumara (SLN) 
Bronze: P.H.W. Karunaratne (SLA) 

50m Rifle Prone Women 
Gold: K.K.G. Perera (SLN) 
Silver: W.G.J. Madushani (SLA) 
Bronze: M.G.T.U.E. Egodawela (SLN) 

50m Rifle Prone Men 
Gold: H.D.P. Kumara (SLN) 
Silver: M.D.U.P.E. de Silva (SLN) 
Bronze: W.A.J.R. Hemachandra (SLA) 

50m Rifle 3x20 Women 
Gold: K.K.G. Perera (SLN) 
Silver: W.G.J. Madushani (SLA) 
Bronze: M.G.T.U.E. Egodawela (SLN) 

50M Rifle 3x40 Men 
Gold: S.M.M. Samarakoon (SLA) 
Silver: H.D.P. KUmara (SLN) 
Bronze: W.K.Y. Krishantha (SLN) 

10m Air Pistol Women 
Gold: R. Abeymanne (Negombo RC) 
Silver: A.I.D.A. Kulatunga (SLA) 
Bronze: K.S.C.G. Kendawala (SLA) 

10m Air Pistol Men 
Gold: W.D.B. Atipola (SLA) 
Silver: W.G.V.K. Wijeratne (SLA) 
Bronze: M.P. Pathirana (SLA) 

25m Sport Pistol Women 
Gold: K.S.C.G. Kendawala (SLA) 
Silver: A.I.D.A. Kulatunga (SLA) 
Bronze: R. Abeymanne (Negombo RC) 

25m Standard Pistol Men 
Gold: T.D.S. Fernando (Magnum) 
Silver: M.P. Pathirana (SLA) 
Bronze: D. Fernando [Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF)] 

25m Rapid Fire Men 
Gold: D. Fernando (SLA) 
Silver: W.W.P. Indunil (SLA) 
Bronze: W.D.B. Atipola (SLA) 

50m Free Pistol Men 
Gold: M.P. Pathirana (SLA) 
Silver: W.G.V.K. Wijeratne (SLA) 
Bronze: D.M.S.M. Dissanayake (SLA) 

10m Air Rifle Women Team 
Gold: SLN 'A' (W.M.S.Y. Perera, K.K.G. Perera, M.G.T.U. Egodawela) 
Silver: SLA 'A' (J.M.D.C. Jayamanna, W.G.J. Madushani, K.G.P. Ratnayake) 
Bronze: SLA 'B' (G.G.S.N. Gamage, P.G.P.S. Jayaratne, D.P.W. Muthunayake) 

10m Air Rifle Men Team 
Gold: SLA 'A' (W.A.J.R. Hemachandra, P.H.W. Karunaratne, S.M.M. Samarakoon)   
Silver: SLN (T.S. Gamage, H.D.P. Kumara, W.K.Y. Krishantha) 
Bronze: SLA 'B' (R.D.P.S. Gunathilake, S.M.A.U. Samarakoon, D.M.S.J. Bandara)   

50m Rifle Prone Women Team 
Gold: SLN 'A' (W.M.S.Y. Perera, K.K.G. Perera, M.G.T.U. Egodawela) 
Silver: SLA 'A' (P.G.P.S. Jayaratne, K.G.P. Ratnayake, W.G.J. Madushani) 
Bronze: SLN 'B' (N.K.P. Nayanthara, D.K.L.M.A. Kumari, B.L.T. Sandamali) 

50m Rifle Prone Men Team 
Gold: SLN 'A' (T.S. Gamage, H.D.P. Kumara, W.K.Y. Krishantha) 
Silver: SLA 'A' (W.A.J.R. Hemachandra, P.H.W. Karunaratne, S.M.M. Samarakoon) 
Bronze: SLN 'B' (U.G.S.K. Jayathilake, A.D.D. de Silva, N.P. Wijayarupa) 

50m Rifle 3x20 Women Team 
Gold: SLN (W.M.S.Y. Perera, K.K.G. Perera, M.G.T.U. Egodawela) 

50M Rifle 3x40 Men Team 
Gold: SLN (T.S. Gamage, H.D.P. Kumara, W.K.Y. Krishantha) 

10m Air Pistol Women Team 
Gold: SLA 'A' (W.A.N.M. Weerakkody, A.I.D.A. Kulatunga, K.S.C.G. Kendawela)   
Silver: SLA 'B' (B.M.S. Sandamali, G.G.K.N.K. Abeyratne, R.A.A. Udayangani) 
Bronze: SLAF (W.A.H.A. Hansika, C. Kumari, J.A.R.P. Ranasinghe) 

10m Air Pistol Men Team 
Gold: SLA 'A' (W.G.V.K. Wijeratne, W.D.D. Atipola, M.P. Pathirana) 
Silver: SLA 'B' (H.D.D. Chamindaratne, S.I. Withanarachchi, W.W.P. Indunil) 
Bronze: SL Air Force (H. Padmasiri, G, Kodituwakku, S. Ranasinghe) 

25m Sport Pistol Women Team 
Gold: SLA 'A' (W.A.N.M. Weerakkody, A.I.D.A. Kulatunga, K.S.C.G. Kendawela)   
Silver: SLN (J.A.S. Sewwandi, R.B. Nadeeshani, W.G.S. Priyadarshani) 
Bronze: SLA 'B' (B.M.S. Sandamali, R.A.A. Udayangani, G.G.K.N.K. Abeyratne) 

25m Standard Pistol Men Team 
Gold: SLA (W.W.P. Indunil, W.D.B. Atipola, M.P. Pathirana) 
Silver: SLAF (H. Padmasiri, D. Fernando, N. Weerakoon) 

25m Rapid Fire Men Team 
Gold: SLA (W.W.P. Indunil, W.D.B. Atipola, M.P. Pathirana) 

50m Free Pistol Men Team 
Gold: SLA 'A' (W. Wijeratne, R.M.L. Kulasooriya, M.P. Pathirana) 
Silver: SLAF (J.P.H. Padmasiri, G. Kodituwakku, S. Ranasinghe) 
Bronze: SLN 'A' (D.M.S.M. Dissanayake, R.D.M.H. Liyanage, H.K. Rajapaksha) 

Individual Skeet Open 
Gold: M.A.S.B. Ranasinghe (SLAF) 
Silver: E.D.M.M. Wijewickrema (SLAF) 
Bronze: Shehan Patterson (Clay Target SCC) 

Individual Skeet Master 
Gold: Shirantha Peiris (Clay Target SCC) 
Silver: M.R.S. Diwulwewa [Sri Lanka Police (SLP)] 
Bronze: W.M.S. Menikdiwela (HCSSC) 

Individual Trap Open 
Gold: Johann Fernando (Negombo RC) 
Silver: R.M. Wimalaratne (SLP) 
Bronze: Mohan Gilbert (Negombo RC) 

Individual Trap Master 
Gold: M.R.S. Diwulwewa (SLP) 
Silver: Nihal Perera (Negombo RC) 
Bronze: Jan Samaranayake (Negombo RC) 

Team Skeet Open 
Gold: Clay Target SCC (Shehan Patteson, Shirantha Peiris, Shankar Dharmaratne) 
Silver: SLAF (E.D.M.M. Wijewickrama, N.M.N.A.K. Wijekoon, M.A.S.B. Ranasinghe) 
Bronze: SLP (M.R.S. Diwulwewa, R.M. Wimalaratne, R.M.U.K.B. Ratnayake) 

Team Trap Open 
Gold: SLP 'A' (M.R.S. Diwulwewa, R.M.U.K.B. Ratnayake, R.M. Wimalaratne) 
Silver: Negombo 'Z' (Jonathan Martenstyn, Mohan Gilbert, Rishan Dias) 
Bronze: Negombo 'B' (Nihal Perera, Diul Pinto, Sean Silva) 

New Sri Lanka Records 
50m Rifle 3x20 Women: Kavindi Perera (SLN) 
50m Rifle Prone Women: Sanduni Perera (SLN) 
10m Air Rifle Women: Jessica Madishani (SLA) 

Overall Awards 
Best Rifle Shooter Men: H.D.P. Kumara (SLN) 
Best Rifle Shooter Women: Kavindi Perera (SLN) 
Best Pistol Shooter Men: M.P. Pathirana (SLA) 
Best Piston Shooter Women: Ruwini Abeymanne (Negombo RC) 

Overall Champions: SL Army 

Overall Runners-up: SL Navy