The Lanka Ride cycling tour organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports began today (16) at 9 am in front of the Lake House Institute.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by the Minister of Road Transport and Urban Development Bimal Ratnayake, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Aruna Bandara, Director General of the Department of Sports Development S. Achchuthan, officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Chairman of the Lake House Institute Gamini Warushamana, and the Director of the Editorial Board of the Lake House Institute Sisira Yapa. Also present at the event were the Chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Police.
The Lanka Ride cycle ride started in Kandy on the first day and will continue to Anuradhapura on the second day tomorrow. It will return to Colombo from Anuradhapura on the 18th.
27 teams of cyclists have joined the cycle ride. After registering, the cycle race began.
5 prizes were awarded in the first stage of the race which concluded in Kandy today (16th), and accordingly H.W.M.S. Pinthu, who competed in number 193, won the first place by finishing the race in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 41 seconds. A.D.S. Perera, who competed in number 195, came in second place, and both of them represent the Sri Lanka Army team. Deshan Kavinda of the Ja-Ela Flash team, who entered the race in number 82, came in third place. Suranga Ranaweera, who competed at number 142, won fourth place and Sithum Purna, who competed at number 33, won fifth place.
The competition will start tomorrow at 9 am in front of the Gannoruwa Agricultural Research Center.
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