Inaugural swimming meet at the newly laid pool in Matale
The Junior swimmers Sithum Thennakoon, Esala Randune and Aakil Mohamed from Trinity College Kandy took away major honours at the inaugural invitation swimming meet held at the Newly laid swimming pool of the Bernard Aluvihare sports complex in Matale on Sunday August 11 .
Aakil Mohamed won a triple as he was placed first in the U-14 boys 25 meter free style butterfly and backstroke events, while Esala Randune and Sithum Thennakoon won a double each.esala Randune was placed first in the U-12 boys 25 meter butterfly and backstroke events in style. Sithum was the winner in both U-10 boys 25 meter freestyle and butterfly events.
Vihindi Dissanayake of Matale international school swam ahead of Roshmi (of Dambulla Swimming Club) to win the U-14 girls 25 meter freestyle event.
The new swimming pool which was constructed at a cost of Rupees 35 million from funds allocated by the sports ministry was ceremonially declared open by the minister of sports Harin Fernando on July 18th. On the invitation of state Minister of Agriculture and MP for Matale Wasantha Aluvihare.
The meet was organised by former Matale District Sports Development officer Ranjit Aluvihare together with Eric Hulangamuwa member of the Management Committee. Asusha Weerasinghe and Deshani Chathurika Wimalarathne officiated as instructers. Over 100 young swimmers from Kandy, Dambulla and Matale participated.
Matale Mayor Daljith Aluvihare who was the Chief Guest at the presentation ceremony gave away medals to the winners.