Sri Lankan athlete Vinod Sandaruwan, a 24-year-old triple jumper from the University of Sabaragamuwa, had reportedly disappeared during the ongoing World University Games in Germany, it is reliably understood. 

Sandaruwan was scheduled to compete today (25) but was not present with the team as of Wednesday (23) night, and no official updates regarding his whereabouts have emerged.

This marks a worrying repeat trend: An athlete from the same university reportedly went missing during the 2019 edition of the Games in Italy as well, yet authorities failed to implement preventative measures since.

The situation echoes a series of similar cases in recent times, where Sri Lankan athletes and officials had vanished during global sporting events. 

Notably, the 2022 Commonwealth Games saw multiple individuals leaving team camps many of whom later filed for asylum in the UK, thus tainting Sri Lanka’s sporting image.

Sports Ministry officials were yet to issue an official statement on Sandaruwan’s absence, at the time this edition went to press.