Herath Mudiyanselage Dinesh Priyantha scripted history on Monday, 30 August, as he set a new World Record in the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 event with a distance of 67.79 meters and won the first-ever Gold Medal for Sri Lanka at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. 

The proud sponsor of the National Paralympics Committee for over two decades and the Sri Lanka Army Para Games Committee since 2015, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC, powered the nine-member strong contingent to Tokyo.

Following a remarkable journey from soldier to sporting glory, the Army veteran, flag bearer, and captain of the nine-member Sri Lankan contingent for the 2020 Paralympics, Herath adds this latest Gold to a string of remarkable successes and firsts for his country, including winning a Bronze Medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the 2017 World Para Athletics Championship London, a Gold Medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games Jakarta, and a Silver Medalist at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championship Dubai.

Commenting on his win, Dinesh Herath said: “I am honoured to have represented my country at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and bring this victory home. I am incredibly thankful to everyone who supported me on my journey, including Namal Rajapaksa - Minister of Youth and Sports, Sports Ministry, my team, the National Paralympics Committee and our sponsor Dialog, for enabling this path towards victory for me and my team since the year 2000.”

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa said: “It was a defining moment for our nation when the Sri Lankan national anthem echoed across the arena as Dinesh Herath won this historic Gold for his country. We are incredibly proud of his achievement. We would also like to commend the National Paralympics Committee for enabling these athletes to achieve greatness in a global platform and Dialog Axiata for their unwavering support towards National Paralympics for over two decades and setting the bar for how empowering sports can truly transform lives.”

Dialog Axiata is the proud sponsor of Sri Lanka’s National cricket, rugby, volleyball and netball teams. The Company also has a close association with the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tournaments, club rugby, school’s rugby, premier football, schools’ cricket, junior volleyball and Paralympic sports – whilst also powering the Army Para Games, National Para Games and the Sri Lanka contingent to the World Paralympic Games.

A journey from solider to sporting glory