- A grand success
The Air Force Cycle Race 2024 commonly known as "GUWAN HAMUDA PAPEDI SAWARIYA" was held for the 25th consecutive time, coinciding with the 73rd anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The Men’s race was held from 3 to 7 March, in 5 stages. Cyclists from all around the country as well as from abroad participated in this race, covering a total distance of 654 km. Pathum Sampath Weerasinghe of the Sri Lanka Army won the overall Championship. The team championship was nailed by the Sri Lanka Army Cycling Team, while a toe-to-toe contest by the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Team secured the Runner-Up spot at the race.
In the Women’s race held on (7 March) from Mankulam to Jaffna, which covered a distance of 98 km, Sri Lanka Navy cyclist Ann Shenali Perera won first place, SLAF cyclist Dinesha Dilrukshi finished second and Madumali Fernando from the Sri Lanka Army finished third. The team championship was titled by the Sri Lanka Air Force Cycling Team.
The awards ceremony was held on the premises of Muttraweli Ground in Jaffna and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest. The Chief of Staff Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne , Members of the Air Force Board of Management, the Chairman, SLAF Cycling, Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera, senior officers, representatives from all the sponsors who joined hands for the entire thrilling event, along with the official media partners, were also present at the presentation ceremony.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s Race
Men’s Team Champion - Sri Lanka Army Team
Men’s Team Runners Up – Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Team
Overall Men’s Champion – Pathum Sampath Weerasinghe - Sri Lanka Army
Overall Men’s 2nd Place – Prabash Silva – Sri Lanka Navy
Overall Men’s 3rd Place – Manush Nihara – Sri Lanka Police
Sprint Champion – Pasindu Thisera - Sri Lanka Army
Women’s Race
Women’s team Champion - Sri Lanka Air Force Team
Women’s Runners Up – Sri Lanka Navy
Overall Women’s Champion – Anne Shenali - Sri Lanka Navy
Overall Women’s 2nd Place – Dinesha Dilrukshi - Sri Lanka Air Force
Overall Women’s 3rd Place – Madumali Fernando - Sri Lanka Army
Sprint Champion – Anne Shenali - Sri Lanka Navy
SLAF Media