Watersports: Samanga Sri Lanka's sole Canoeist at ICF Under-23 Sprint World Championship

S.A. Visulmina Samanga of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) will represent Sri Lanka at the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Junior and Under (U)-23 Canoe Sprint World Championship 2018 to be held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from July 16-30. 

Sumanga is scheduled to undergo a ICF training camp in Bulgaria, prior to the tournament. 

Samanga, the sole Sri Lanka representative was an automatic choice as he has won Gold at the National championships, and Silver in the Open Category in the U-23 C1 1000m, C1 500m and C1 200m categories. 

This international event is one of the international championships included in the National Sports calendar for Canoeing. 

National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, had made the necessary arrangements for Samanga's participation, along with by the national canoe sprint coach Mihin Amarasinghe and team manager Danuna Tillakaratne. 

Sumanga had his education at St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa, where he was a keen swimmer from Grade II. 

As a 12-year-old, he had seen two Kayaking boats at the Bolgoda Rowing Club and insisted he row these boats, from his father who accompanied him. 

Seeing the keenness of the boy, Saman Karunathilake, who was in charge of the boats, took him round the lake and encouraged him to take up the sport. 

Recognising his talents, Lanka Canoe Federation President Prithiviraj Perera guided Sumanga to be in the position where he is now. 

The support and encouragement of the SLA has been the secret behind Sumanga's achievements at National level.