Aviator Roshan Abeysundara sets new Asian record for swim across Palk Strait

Air Force swimmer leading Aviator Roshan Abeysundara has set a new Asian record by swimming 59.3 km across the Palk Strait in 28 hours, 19 min, and 43 seconds.

Abeysundara embarked on a challenging endeavour of swimming across the Palk Strait from Thalaimannar to Dhanishkodi and back on Saturday.

He returned to the country yesterday morning, completing the challenge in record time.

Abeysundara, a 32-year-old product of Matara Central College, is enlisted as an airman of Sri Lanka Air Force since 2008. He has successfully participated in various adventure sea swimming expeditions in Sri Lanka. With great determination he successfully completed the Sri Lankan national swimming record of 49 km in 23 hours on 26 March this year.

Though 14 swimmers have crossed the Palk Strait to-date, the unique feat of swimming back had been undertaken by only one Sri Lankan before Kumar Anandan in 1971, taking 51 hours to complete the event. (NewsWire)