Tharushi Karunarathna wins LMD’s ‘Sri Lankan of The Year’ award

Friday, 5 January 2024 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tharushi Karunarathna

Business magazine LMD has announced that its ‘Sri Lankan Of The Year’ (SLOTY) for 2023 is Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunarathna.

LMD says: “The golden run of athletes on the international stage mercifully brought back the smiles of a nation starved of success for decades and something to cheer about during challenging economic times.”

“For the talent, courage and dynamism she demonstrated to underline her status as Asia’s best, Tharushi Karunarathna stood out. Handpicked by talent scouts as an outstanding prospect a few years ago, Tharushi has lived up to her potential, racing against the clock to shatter records and achieve what seemed mission impossible,” the magazine elaborates.

A spokesperson for LMD said: “The phenomenal feat of an 18-year-old schoolgirl from Kandy who ran like a gazelle to stride past favourites in the women’s 800 metres final to win Sri Lanka’s first athletics gold medal at the Asian Games in 21 years will live in memory for years to come.”

LMD’s 29th Sri Lankan Of The Year joins the company of many distinguished citizens over the years. The accolade has ranked among the island’s eminent awards since it was launched in 1995, when the late Sri Lankabhimanya Lakshman Kadirgamar was nominated for the first of two such accolades , the second, posthumously.

The only other Sri Lankan to win SLOTY twice over is Kumar Sangakkara, who was named as such by the magazine for a second time in 2019.

For the full story, log onto LMD’s website (www.LMD.lk).

LMD’s publisher, Media Services, says the print edition of the magazine has been released while its digital version is available on WhatsApp and its social media platforms.