Sports
Nimali’s unique track record
Only athlete to win national titles in six disciplines
More than two decades after first competing at national level Nimali Liyanarachchi is still among the athletes to watch at top local competitions. When the 103rd National Athletics Championship unfolds at Diyagama on Saturday, she is the favourite to win the 800 metres title.
The 35-year-old trained by Sujith Abeysekara has a unique record to boast. While she has held national records in several events, she is probably the only athlete to have won national titles across six disciplines.
Those who have enjoyed the competition between Nimali and fellow Sooriyawewa athlete Gayanthika Abeyratne during the last decade will have no doubt that she is an 800 m specialist. It is the 800 metres that won her medals at Asian competitions and also earned a ticket to the Olympics. She has held national records in at least four disciplines including the 800m.
In 2016, Nimali shattered the long standing national record of Dhammika Menike (1992- Barcelona) at the National Sports Festival in Jaffna (2:03.5secs) and with that a mental barrier paving the way for the others to further improve on the record. She has won six national titles in the 800 metres and has been on the 800 metres podium on more than ten occasions. She also claimed her only 400 metres national title in 2016.
Nimali has also claimed a couple of national titles in the 1,500 metres and held the national record of the distance (4:15.86secs) for two years after breaking a seven year old record in 2019. She has improved the national record of the 3,000 metres steeplechase on several occasions and was part of the team that established the then national record of the women’s 4×400 metres at the Doha Asian Athletics Championship in 2019.
She has also won national titles in the 5000m (2008), 400m hurdles (2012) and the 3,000 metres steeplechase (2008, 2011).
She commenced as a promising long distance runner creating a youth record in the 5000 metres in 2006 and beaten many an odds both on and off the field to stay competitive.
This time she will be fighting to regain the 800 metres title after finishing as the runner up at back to back meets. When she takes the starters orders neither her longtime rival Gayanthika Abeyratne nor the Asian Games medallist Tharushi Karunaratne will be there to challenge her.
by Reemus Fernando
The 104th National Athletics Championship got off to an impressive start at the Diyagama Stadium, with Rasara Wijesuriya and Arunthavarasa Puvitharan producing record-breaking performances on an action-packed opening day.
Rasara dominated the women’s 10,000m to win the gold medal in 33:32.77 seconds, setting a new meet record in the process. G. W. O. N. Fonseka finished second in 38:25.55, while H. I. S. Fernando took the bronze in 39:00.69.
Puvitharan provided another record-breaking highlight in the men’s pole vault, clearing 5.10m to establish a new meet record. H. S. Eranga Janith followed with 5.00m for silver, while M. H. I. Sandaruwan secured bronze with 4.90m.
The men’s 10,000m produced a closely contested battle, with M. Kobinathan claiming the national title in 30:58.50. M. S. A. Fernando was second in 31:10.08, while D. P. S. S. Senanayaka completed the podium in 31:22.72.
As expected Madushani Herath secured the women’s triple jump title with a best effort of 13.60m, finishing ahead of I. S. W. Arachchi, who recorded 13.13m. G. I. S. Lankathilaka took third with 13.00m.
In the men’s shot put, Suseenthirakumar Mithunraj produced a winning throw of 16.41m to take gold. W. J. R. Alwis was second with 14.91m, while R. S. Jayawardana secured bronze with 14.47m.
Ovini Chandrasekara completed the women’s shot put podium-topping performance, winning gold with a throw of 12.82m. V. D. V. Gimhani took silver with 12.29m and A. D. W. Mendis won bronze with 11.84m.
With two new meet records already providing the opening-day highlights in thr morning, the championship has begun on a high note, setting the stage for further strong performances as Sri Lanka’s leading athletes battle for national honours.
Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.
The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides.Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain’s position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. Though Kusal hasn’t been ruled out of the ODIs just yet, were he to miss out, Asalanka, as the designated vice-captain, might step in there too.
Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.
Pavan Rathnayake, the 24-year-old top-order batter, has replaced Kusal in the T20I touring party, while Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler who was in the squad for the Tests against India recently but didn’t get to play, has come in for Binura.
Asalanka returned to the leadership group three months after being deposed as ODI captain and six months after being sidelined from the T20I unit. He last played a T20I in February this year, but is currently part of St Lucia Kings’ line-up at CPL 2026. His returns have been mediocre, though: 93 runs at a strike rate of 124 from six innings.
The T20Is will be played on September 15 (Southampton), September 17 (Cardiff) and September 19 (Manchester), while the ODIs will take place on September 22 (Chester-le-Street), September 24 (Leeds) and September 27 (The Oval).
Sri Lanka T20I squad for the tour of England
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara (wk), Lahiru Udara (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (capt), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka
(Cricinfo)
Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando have been ruled out of Sri Lanka’s upcoming T20I series against England, with the SLC saying that the two were “still undergoing rehabilitation” after injuries picked up at the 2026 Lanka Premier League.
The update came just over a day after the two were named in the 16-member squad, with Kusal retained as captain of both the T20I and the ODI sides.Charith Asalanka, who had returned to the vice-captain’s position for the series, will now lead the side in the T20Is. Though Kusal hasn’t been ruled out of the ODIs just yet, were he to miss out, Asalanka, as the designated vice-captain, might step in there too.
Kusal has been out of action since July 19 with a right hamstring injury, while Binura hasn’t played since August 5, SLC putting his absence down to a back injury.
Pavan Rathnayake, the 24-year-old top-order batter, has replaced Kusal in the T20I touring party, while Dilshan Madushanka, the fast bowler who was in the squad for the Tests against India recently but didn’t get to play, has come in for Binura.
(Cricinfo)
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