National champion Gayanthika Abeyratne receives Navy service promotion

Sri Lanka Navy’s middle- and long-distance athlete Gayanthika Abeyrathna received a service promotion to the next higher rate of Petty Officer from Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, effective 2 November.

Gayanthika set two national records, in the women’s 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres, on 30 and 31 October, at the 99th National Athletics Championships held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. She finished the 1,500-metre event in four minutes and 9.12 seconds (4:9.12) and 5,000-metre event in 15 minutes and 55.84 seconds (15:55.84) becoming the national champion in both.

The athlete, together with her coach National Institute of Sports Science Director G.L. Sajith Jayalal, called on Commander of the Navy and Navy Sports Board President Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne at the Navy Headquarters yesterday. Having commended the athlete for her commitment and talent, Ulugetenne gave her a service promotion to the rate of Petty Officer and encouraged her to achieve many more victories in the future for the motherland.

Abeyratne joined Sri Lanka Navy in 2010 and has represented Sri Lanka Navy in athletics over the years. She has brought much credit to the Navy as well as the motherland throughout her athletic career. She won a gold medal in the women’s 800 metres at the 2017 Taipei City Asian Grand Prix in Taipei, a silver medal in the women’s 800 metres at the 2017 Asian Championships in India, a gold medal in the women’s 1,500 metres at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and a bronze medal in the women’s 800 metres at the same championship. Befittingly, she also clinched the award for the Best Sportswoman at the 2021 Navy Colours Awarding Ceremony.

Further, the Commander of the Navy also heaped praise on her coach Jayalal, who was instrumental in coaching the athlete, and presented him a special memento in appreciation of his contribution for this achievement.