Lionel Samarajeeva to run at IAAF World Cross Country in Uganda

YWith his cross country performance at Cross Country race held in Nuwara Eliya last week Lionel Samarajeeva of Central Province is hopeful to represent Sri Lanka at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships to be held in Uganda on March 26.

This was stated by Saman Kumara Gunewardena, Chairman Athletics Selection Committee, Athletics Association of Sri Lanka to the Sunday Times.

Gayanthika Abeyrathne (Southern) who won the women’s race in Nuwara Eliya has indicated that she personally does not like to race in Uganda. She has said that her main target is the Asian Games. Her events are 800 metres and 1500 metres. She has competed in the Nuwara Eliya event because there were no racing events during that period.

Lionel Samarajeeva of Central Province and Gayanthika Abeyrathne of Southern Province emerged winners of the Cross Country Race held in Nuwara Eliya in connection with the 42nd National Sports Festival.

Samarajeeva clocked 33 minutes 00 seconds while Gayanthika returned a time of 38 minutes 33 seconds. Ninety men and 54 women competed for the Nuwara Eliya Cross Country.

Central Province bagged the championship titles for men and women. Following are the results and timings: ear 2000 saw a dramatic change in cycling in Sri Lanka, few ExOfficials of the national body for cycling introduced a new discipline , as retaliation for clipping them off from the main body due to pressure made by then minister of sports, S.B. Dissanayake who used his ministerial powers to get rid of us who were not the “Yes Sir” type which I feel was a detrimental trend that gave affect to politicizing the national bodies which is continuing even up to date.

Few ex officials like Patrick Happuarachchi, Shabir A.I.Jafferjee, Sam Soundravale, Wasantha Kahapolaarchchi, A.M. Sumanaweera, (three times winner of Tour de Lanka) and the writer with few of his business colleagues like Fazlee Ahamad started the National Mountain Biking Association as an alternate body for Cycling Federation