Navy promotes record breaker Gayanthika

Veteran runner Gayanthika Abeyratne who established two national records at the weekend’s second leg of the 99th National Athletics Championship was promoted to the next higher rate of Petty Officer by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne. Her promotion came to effect on Tuesday. .

Sri Lanka Navy’s middle- and long-distance runner who had been under the tutelage of Sajith Jayalal for a long period smashed national records in the women’s 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres. With Sri Lanka Athletics amending the schedule at the eleventh hour it became possible for Abeyratne to have a go at both records as she commenced her medal hunt with the 1500m on Saturday.

However, the margin with which she lowered the previous records was something that no one saw coming. Gayanthika clocked 4:09.12 seconds to break the record held by Nimali Liyanarachchi in 2019. She slashed some six seconds off the previous (4:15.86) record. In the 5,000metres held on Sunday the former 800 metres champion returned a time of 15:55.84 seconds. She really smashed the record held by US based runner Hiruni Wijayaratne as she became the first Sri Lankan female runner in history to clock a sub 16 minutes performance. Wijayaratne’s record was 16:17.51 seconds.

“The Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne commended the athlete for her commitment and talent and awarded her a service promotion to the rate of Petty Officer and encouraged her to achieve many more victories in the future. He also heaped praise on her coach Sajith Jayalal, who was instrumental in training the athlete, and presented him a special memento in appreciation of his contribution for this achievement ,” Navy said in a statement.

Abeyrathne joined Sri Lanka Navy in 2010 and has represented the institution in athletics over the years. She has won a number of medals at international competitions for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Navy said that Abeyratne was adjudged the Best Sportswoman at the 2021 Navy Colours Awarding Ceremony. In one of her last international competitions for Sri Lanka before the Covid 19 pandemic Abeyratne was placed fourth in the 1,500 metres at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha in 2019 but later her place was elevated to bronze after the disqualification of a podium finisher for using banned substances.