Buwaneka and Dilmi take home singles titles

Buwaneka Goonetileke won the men’s singles title

Dilmi Dias won the women’s singles title

Buwaneka Goonetileke won the men’s singles title for the first time at the 69th National Badminton Championship organised by the Sri Lanka Badminton at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. He beat Viren Neththasinghe 21-17 21-9 21-16. 

In addition to the singles, he also teamed up with Sachin Dias to win the men’s doubles, defeating Viren Neththasinghe and Rasindu Hendahewa 21-16 21-17.

Meanwhile the women’s singles final between Kavindi Sirimannage and Dilmi Dias ended early after Kavindi suffered a recurrence of a leg injury sustained in the first round. Dias claimed a walk-over win to clinch the title. Kavindi, who had qualified for the women’s doubles and mixed doubles finals, was also forced to forfeit both matches.

As such, Thulith Palliyaguru and Buthmi Galagamage received a walk-over win from Sachin Dias and Sirimannege in the mixed doubles final, and Tiana Vidanachchi and Buthmi Galagamage also received a walk-over win from Thilini Hendahewa and Sirimannage to clinch the women’s doubles title.

Former National Badminton Champion Dinuka Karunaratne unexpectedly lost to Buwaneka Goonetileke with 21-18 23-21 in the men’s singles semifinals. Neththasinghe advanced to the men’s singles final by defeating Dumindu Abeywickrama 21-19 21-6 in the semifinals.

Department of Sports Development Director General Amal Edirisuriya, National Olympic Committee President Suresh Subramaniam and Sri Lanka Badminton President Rohan de Silva participated in the prize giving ceremony.