Rasara Wijesuriya won the first Gold

Rasara Wijesuriya of the Eastern Province gained the first gold medal in athletics at the 49th National Sports Festival (NSF) track and field events recently.

Wijesuriya, a student of the University of Kelaniya, clocked 35:32.99 to win the gold medal in the women’s 10,000m. The silver medal went to HMCS Herath of the Central Province however the bronze was secured by BMN Sewwandi of the Western Province.

Neshara Daksitha of the Northern Province set the only new meet record on the inaugural day by clearing 3.52m in the women’s pole vault, breaking her own previous NSF record of 3.51m established in 2024.

The Games, with the participation of more than 1,000 athletes on behalf of all provinces, were professed open yesterday at the Galle Dadella District Sports Complex under the patronage of Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage and Deputy Minister Sugath Thilakaratne. The closing ceremony will be held tomorrow under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

The festival was ceremonially released with the traditional Olympic torch lighting by veteran badminton player Niluka Karunaratne (London Olympics 2012) and former athlete Tamara Samandipika (Sydney Olympics 2000), both from the Southern Province who represented Sri Lanka at the Olympic Games.

The 2025 NSF, organized by the Ministry of Sports and the Department of Sports Development, features competitions in 33 sporting disciplines.

Results – Day One
Women’s 10,000m
Gold: Rasara Wijesuriya (Eastern) – 35:32.99
Silver: H.M.C.S. Herath (Central) – 37:03.20
Bronze: B.M.N. Sewwandi (Western) – 37:13.92
Women’s Javelin Throw
Gold: Dilhani Lekamge (Sabaragamuwa) – 55.61m
Silver: D.M.I. Hasanthi (Eastern) – 52.21m
Bronze: H.P.D.H. Maduwanthi (Uva) – 50.26m
Men’s 5000m
Gold: V. Vakshan (Central) – 15:00.72
Silver: I. Vikirthan (Northern) – 15:02.48
Bronze: H.D.S.D. Gunasekara (Western) – 15:15.09
Women’s Long Jump
Gold: H.M.N.M. Herath (Uva) – 6.09m
Silver: R.D. Sithmini (Western) – 5.95m
Bronze: G.I.S. Lankathilaka (North Central) – 5.69m
Women’s Pole Vault
Gold: Neshara Daksitha (Northern) – 3.52m (New Meet Record)
Silver: K.A.C.K. Kodithuwakku (Central) – 3.10m
Bronze: P. Abishalini (Northern) – 3.10m
400m Mixed Relay
Gold: Western Province
Silver: Southern Province
Bronze: North Western Province