Weerasena’s death anniversary today

One year has passed since the demise of former national discus throw champion and top sports administrator Ranjit Weerasena.

Weerasena was the national discus champion for more than a decade from late 60s. He was the Public Schools Champion in 1959 when he represented St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya.

He established the discus throw national record (39.94 metres) in 1963 and held it for ten years. Weerasena became the president of Sri Lanka Athletics, formerly the Amateur Athletics Association of Sri Lanka in 1978. He is the youngest person ever to hold the President post of both Sri Lanka Athletics and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.

Weerasena was an active member of Ace Athletic Club and spent his own funds to help poor athletes in Sri Lanka. He led the Sri Lankan team to Moscow in 1980 and was closely involved with veteran athletics. He is sadly missed by his brother Deshabandu Dr. Lakshman Weerasena and his two sisters Ayoma Salgadu (USA) and Nalini Perera.