Tharuka a budding motor cross specialist
Tharuka Rumesh De Silva, a Grade 5 student of Dharmapala College Pannipitiya who entered the world of racing by taking part in the Gajaba Super Cross in the year 2010 at the age of four, is a budding talent in the game of motor cross.
With many achievements tucked under his belt, including the winner u-10 Nuwara Eliya Motor Cross (2013), winner u-10 Galle Motor Cross (2014), winner u-10 Vijayabahu Motor Cross Kurunegala (2014), runner up u-10 Foxhill Super Cross Diyathalawa (2013), winner u-10 SLDA Sigiri Motor Cross Sigiriya (2014), winner u-10 SLDA Garner Super Cross Minneriya (2014), winner u-10 Gajaba Super Cross Anuradhapura (2014), this young rider has even represented Sri Lanka at the international level.
Tharuka participated at the Charity Motor Cross held in Japan last year, and obtained 6th and the 10th positions respectively when he competed at the under 10 - 50 c/c category and the under 13 65 c/c category. In December last year, Tharuka became the winner u-10 in the Nuwara Eliya Motor Cross while he obatined the 3rd position in under-13 and u-16 categories at the same tournament.
Basking in the memories of his tour to Japan, little Tharuka says that he felt proud to have represented his country at the International level as much as the honour he brought to his school although he was unable to grab a main title.
Tharuka says his parents and the trainer Gayan Sandaruwan – the latter who is a leading Motor Cross champion, have been an enormous strength to him.
Having identified his talents during the early child hood, Tharuka’s father, Shantha started coaching him when Tharuka was just three and half years old. He received his first training lesson from his father in a small temporary track that was set up at home.
“My son is very committed to the game. His weekends are completely dedicated for this task going for tracks in Welisara and Pannala for practices. His love for the game is such that he takes care of his bike and the sports gear so well,” says Romesh.
“It is very challenging for those from the Middle Class like us to engage in a sport like this. Finding tour sponsors is the biggest challenge of all. Whatever he has managed so far is from the assistance received from school or my personal funding, says Tharuka’s father.
Manjula Galappaththi, the over all in charge of sports at Dharmapala College Pannipitiya says Tharuka is an asset to the school because children who excel in this area of sport are very rare. “Tharuka has a long way to go in this filed. He brought honour to school by taking part in an international competition. We are doing everything possible to facilitate his continued engagement in this filed. But regrettably facilities that can be provided from school is limited.”