දරුවන්

Lotus Cyclecross 2003 National Mountain Biking Championship

Ayesha Madushani Sumanaweera who won the under-19 girls event.

The Lotus Cyclecross 2003 National Mountain Biking Championship sponsored by Lotus Tyres and organised by the National Mountain Biking Association was held at the Hotel Tree of Life at Yahalatenna Kandy on Sunday 27h July. 

The Media sponsors were Associated News Papers of Ceylon Ltd. (Lake House) and Hotel Tree of Life.

Cycling gold medalist felicitated
By Sujeewa Edirisinghe - Ratnapura Correspondent

Ayesha Sumanaweera, of Dela Ratnapura, who won a cycling gold medal at the 10th South Asian Games, was felicitated recently by the residents of the area. She is the daughter of all island cycling champion A.M. Sumanaweera and Dudharma Kumudini.

Born in 1986, under the guidance of her father, she followed in her father’s footsteps, early in life. She is studying for her GCE Advanced Level at Nivithigala Sumana Vidyalaya where she has had her entire education.

Ayesha who scored many a triumph at district, provincial and national level championships, bagged her first gold medal in an all island tournament. In 2005, she represented Sri Lanka at the International Mountain Cycling championship in Indonesia, beating several competitors from other countries.

Addressing the felicitation ceremony, Ayesha said, "Cycling does not carry much recognition in Sri Lanka, with hundreds of cyclists seen everyday on the streets. A bicycle, fit for an international tournament, costs more than Rs. 500,000, which is beyond our means. However, in other countries, such expensive bicycles are used for practising. I bought a bicycle for Rs. 185,000 on hire-purchase, for the SAG games. The Sports Ministry loans a cycle, to be returned after the championship. These are common problems faced by many athletes in the country."

"I feel that my sister will also be a cycling champion. My father and I provide guidance. She was one of the competitors at the International Tournament 2005 in Indonesia. Cycling is a popular international sport but, in Sri Lanka, adequate facilities are not available for athletes. I loaned a bicycle from Saliya Weerakkody of the Sri Lanka Army, to practise for the SAG. I am grateful to him for his assistance. I would be failing in my duty if I forget the Manager of the SAARC Cycling Club Nanda Rajapakse, Secretary, Ratnapura District Cycling Association and coach Anthony Symonds, hony, patron of the District Cycling Association Thusitha Matararachchi, and others instrumental in my achievements" she added.

The felicitation ceremony was organized by the Secretary of the Ratnapura District Cycling Association, P. Anthony Symonds, M. Priyantha of Ratnapura and residents of the area.