LAKRUWAN WIJESIRI– FIRST SRI LANKAN TRIATHLETE AT ASIAN GAMES
Foundation of Goodness’ Triathlete Lakruwan Wijesiri has become the first ever Sri Lankan triathlete to participate in the Asian Games. Wijesiri joined the Sri Lankan delegation who travelled to Indonesia for the 18th Asian Games which took place from August 18th to September 2.
Wijesiri’s event was scheduled for September 1 where he was able to place 24th in the Elite Men’s category with a time of 02:11:28 with the overall winner Jumpei Furuya from Japan obtaining a time of 1:49:43
Wijesiri has been competing in triathlons locally since 2011 winning the Loving Trinco Triathlon in 2011 and 2012 as well as the Carlton Super Cross in 2013 and 2014. He started his international career as a professional triathlete in 2013 by participating in the Cold Storage Triathlon in Singapore and also participated in the Ironman 70.3 Triathlon in Indonesia in 2015, obtaining fourth place at both events. At this time, Wijesiri had no formal training as a triathlete and had only ever practiced at the FOG Bryan Adams Foundation Swimming Pool Complex while running and cycling down village roads.
Following his performance at the Singaporean triathlon the Foundation of Goodness were able to connect Wijesiri with sponsor Mohan Chandramohan from the USA who supported his training at Meta sport singapore. He was also given the backing, training and development by the Sri Lankan Navy to raise the bar in reaching this milestone.
Wijesiri is currently a Swimming Coach at the Foundation of Goodness Sports Academy and hopes to expand his triathlon dreams to one day represent Sri Lanka at the Olympic Games.
The Foundation of Goodness was established in 1999 and has worked extensively following the 2004 tsunami that devastated the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans to develop a one of a kind holistic rural community development model which today delivers a wide range of programmes to over 15,000 beneficiaries every month from 300+ villagers in the South, North and
East of Sri Lanka, free of charge, via their 30 empowerment activity sectors delivered through the MCC Centre of Excellence and Sports Academy in Seenigama and 10 Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centres.the Sports Academy delivers free of charge sporting activities in numerous avenues catering to 500 participants from 92 villages in the Seenigama Region.
Wijesiri’s achievements, specially being the only triathlete ever to represent Sri Lanka at a major international event like the Asian Games, proves the existence of a wealth of talent and skills identifiable in the rural villages of our country and how many more talented athletes we can find if they are guided in the right direction to keep our nation’s flag flying high.
Wijesiri’s event was scheduled for September 1 where he was able to place 24th in the Elite Men’s category with a time of 02:11:28 with the overall winner Jumpei Furuya from Japan obtaining a time of 1:49:43