How deleting game apps, rare cooperate sector backing, golden rendezvous of a coach powered Lakvijaya to a national record

By Reemus Fernando  

When Janindu Induwara Lakvijaya clocked 13.82 seconds to win the second heat of the men’s 110 metre hurdles at the Selection Trial held at Diyagama last week, the former St. Peter’s College athlete not only established a national record but also earned himself and his employer, a special place in the annals of the country’s track and field history.

Spectators and the athlete himself did not know immediately that a new national record had been established as the time display board did not function at the time. “I felt that I had run a good race but did not know it until my training partner Ariyaratne checked the electronic time with the photo finish judges,” said the 22-year-old who is only the second Sri Lankan to have broken the 14 seconds barrier on legal time calculations.

National Records are not often renewed. The 110 metres hurdles national record (14.00) of Olympian Mahesh Perera had remained unchanged for 24 years until Sri Lanka Army’s Roshan Ranatunga shattered it in 2021 with a time of 13.89 seconds. It was that record that Lakvijaya erased last week. A majority of the country’s national track and field records are held by athletes attached to the tri forces as these institutions recruit prospective athletes when they leave school. A few of the national records are also held by Sri Lankan athletes studying and training overseas.

Not many private sector institutions have come to nurture future prospects in athletics after cricket’s success at the global stage in the late 90s swayed leading companies to employ cricketers in a big way. It was a rare opportunity for Lakvijaya to get employment at a private firm where he could persevere as an athlete. “I received the backing of one of the old boys of St. Peter’s Mr. Roshan Abeygoonawardena to get employment at CDB where I received the support of the whole staff. I am given easy working hours so that I could both train and work. That is a huge benefit for me. From my boss to everyone there back me. There is a young staff who are always supportive,” said Lakvijaya.

A record only a few saw coming 

With reigning national record holder Roshan Ranatunga not competing in the meet, a record was the least expected outcome in the men’s 110 metres hurdles. Lakvijaya had run many a race but in the spectators’ eyes he was yet to establish himself as the pretender to the record. But his coach, the Asian Games medallist Asoka Jayasundara was waiting for the opportunity for years. “He has the potential to do that. It is only a matter of time. The day he takes this event seriously, Lakvijaya will improve the record,” the former hurdler Jayasundara would often tell scribes.

Golden rendezvous of coach and athlete  

Lakvijaya commenced his athletics at Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya. During his teenage years he also had the freedom to compete even in combat sports. His father a former 1,500 metres athlete had encouraged him to persevere in a sport that he liked the most. It was in the year 2015, during a visit to Dr. Lal Ekanayake of the Sports Medical Unit to obtain medical advice that Lakvijaya was influenced to come under the supervision of Jayasundara. Since then the former hurdler had been motivating Lakvijaya to take up the discipline seriously.

Dananjaya Ariyaratne the best training partner  

Having come under the supervision of Jayasundara, Lakvijaya also found an ideal training partner in Dananjaya Ariyaratne. “Ariyaratne is the best training partner that I ever had. He is good-hearted, he use to bring me homemade lunch and gives me support even during competitions. He also motivates me to do well. In fact, it was Ariyaratne who put ice before the competition when he had got to compete. I am lucky to have had a training partner like him,” said Lakvijaya.

Competition with former record holder Ranatunga  

With the former record holder, Roshan Ranatunga set to return to competitions soon rather than later Sri Lanka can witness history’s two fastest 110 metre hurdlers competing together. That is something that excites Lakvijaya who looks forward to the prospect. “Competing together will certainly boost the speed.  That will be good for both of us. Though I have established a new national record we are still lagging behind the Asian standards. It will be on us now to improve the record further.” Ranatunga was still recovering from an injury when Sri Lanka Athletics conducted the First Selection Trial at Diyagama.

Asked about the sacrifices that he had to make to achieve the national record, Lakvijaya said that doing away with computer games was one of the toughest. “I love to play computer games. But when I realized that it takes precious resting time I decided to give them up. I deleted all games apps from my phone. That was one of the keys to my success.”

Lakvijaya had a long list to thank from his parents, coach, employer, and training partner to Sri Lanka Army’s physiotherapist Lalith who has helped on his way to achieving the national record.

Lakvijaya has found an ideal training partner in Dananjaya Ariyaratne