A record 1006 participants took to the sea at Mount Lavinia bay as the 77th Annual Mount Lavinia Sea Swim weekend drew to a close on Sunday.
This is the first time that the number of entries crossed the four digit mark in the event organized annually by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union, the national body for aquatic sports. The race leaders in the recent years continued to shine in the women’s race and the men’s races which were swum on Saturday and Sunday respectively. K. Imasha Sewwandi of Sri Devananda Vidayalaya, Ambalangoda won the women’s race in the absence of her close competitor Sunethra Wijeratne who has been nursing an injury.
However, the competition was of a different nature on Sunday with a sprint in the last 15-20 metres between C.M.N. Hulangamuwe and Ravindu Rikshan De Silva from Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. Ultimately, the Dharmasokian edged out the Trinitian after rubbing shoulders while both choosing to aim for the same spot to end the race in which 714 men participated.
Dilendra Ratnayake of St.Joseph’s College and Nikoli Bandara of Mahamaya College, Kandy won the under 14 event for boys and girls and respectively
A new addition to the event line-up this year was the Masters One Km Sea Swim which commenced near the Surf Club swimming to the finish at the iconic Mount Lavinia Hotel. Sixteen of the 60 masters swimmers were Indians who made their way to Colombo to participate at this event in the five year age categories from 25 years to 74 years.
The Mayor of Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia His Worship Dhanasiri Amaratunga presented the awards on Sunday as Chief Guest at the ceremony held at Mount Lavinia Hotel which has been hosting the event continuously in association with SLASU providing assistance with venue logistics. The mayor pledged his support for the event with a promise to make a presentation of a mayor’s cup from next year.
MAS Active and Maliban Milk also supported the event with their contribution of T-Shirts and milk for participants.
