Yogananda Wijesundera feted with life achievement
Veteran national coach Yogananda Wijesundera was feted with the prestigious SLT SILK Lifetime Achievements Award at their 4th Sports awards presentation at the BMICH.
The annual Awards Ceremony 2018 which was organised by sportsinfo.lk and sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom for the fourth year in succession was held with the Minister of Provincial Councils, Local Government and Sports, Faiszer Musthapha, as Chief Guest. SLT Chairman P.G. Kumarasinghe, K.A. Kitthi Perera, SLT CEO and 1996 World Cup winning team members Aravinda De Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana and Hashan Tillekeratne were among the other distinguished guests present at the occasion.
The SLT SILK Lifetime Achievement Award, given every year to one sports personality, is an initiative of the SILK Jury to recognise the important part role models play in supporting athletes on the road to their sporting dreams.
It is very significant that Carrom, which is not a main stream sport, was highly recognised and was selected for the Best Team sport award over other more popular sports such as cricket and Rugby.
The Sri Lanka national Carrom teams hogged the limelight at the glamourous ceremony, bagging two major awards. The Men’s Carrom team was named the Men’s Team of the Year, following their first Carrom World Cup win in the city of Chuncheon, South Korea in August while Chamil Cooray was named as the Carrom Player of the year following his personal and performances during the year.
Kumara Sangakkara, one of the greatest and most perceptive characters in the game of cricket, among players of the modern era was recognised as the ‘Duncan White Sports Excellence and Contribution’ award winner.
Lasith Malinga was named the ‘Most Popular Sports Personality of the Year’ and took his first People's Choice award during his 15 year career.
Sri Lanka’s promising Weight Lifter, Indika Dissanayake won the ‘Outstanding Sports Personality of the year for his silver medal win at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year, while Hasitha Boyagoda was named as the Outstanding School Sports Personality of the Year, following his world record 191 against Kenya at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in January.
Also recognised was Commonwealth Games 45-48kg weight class Women’s Boxing, Bronze medalist, Anusha Kodithuwakku who was named the ‘Boxer of the Year’.
Para Sports Personality of the Year award went to Amila Prashan while the Women's Team of the Year award went to the Sri Lanka Netball team, who won the Asia Cup and qualified for the 2019 Netball World Cup at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.