Dhanushka and Thakshila fastest sprinters at NSB Zone 4 Sports Festival held in Matara

Text and pix by P. D. de Silva

Dhanushka Peiris of the Baddegama branch and Thakshila Ariyarathna of the Matara 2 branch were the fastest male and female athletes at the National Savings Bank’s (NSB) Zone 4 sports festival held at the Uyanwatta stadium last Sunday.

Zone 4 of the National Savings Bank comprises of forty branches situated in the Galle, Matara, Hambanthota, Rathnapura and Kaluthara districts. More than eight hundred staff and members of their families participated in the many sporting events at the sports festival.

A team from the Beruwala branch comprising of P. M. Wanarachchi, V. R. Thushan Madhusanka, P. H. Abeynayaka, A. P. P. Madushan, P. D. N. Udayanga, Lakmal Egodawaththa and P. C. Abeygunawardena defeated the Ambalantota branch team to carry away the six-a-side cricket championship for men. Hakmana branch defeated the Tangalle branch to clinch the women’s six-a-side cricket title.

Galle branch defeated Kalutara branch to win the men’s football championship. The winning team  comprised of S. B. Suranga, A. M. M. S. Chathuranga, H. G. L. M. Sampath, M. L. W. Salgado; P. D. Hearth, Ramesh Dillimuni, Sameera Gamage, Chamaru Abeysekera and Lakshan de Silva.

Deputy General Manager Ajith Peiris was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony while Senior DGM Jagath Gajanayaka and AGM Operations Lal Karunathilake presented the awards. NSB’s Zone 4 sports festival was organised by a team led by Regional Manager Pujitha Andrahennedi.

Winners of events at NSB’s zone 4 sports festival:

Individual events

100M (Men)

1. Dhanushka Peiris – Middeniya

2. K. D. Sameera Peiris – Kalutara

3. Pubudu Abeynayake – Beruwala

100M (Women)

1. Thakshila Ariyarathna – Matara 2

2. A. I. Muthukumarana – Ambalantota

3. Sachini Kandegoda – Mathugama

100M (Boys under-15)

1. H. P. Ishan Pasindu (H. P. Premasiri – Middeniya)

2. R. Sanuja Dilshan (Waruni Ganga – Ambalantota)

3. H. P. Thihera Thashmika (H. P. Premasiri – Middeniya)

100M (Girls under-15)

1. U. W. A. Suhasa Yuwindi (U. W. A. Priyantha – Akuressa)

2. U. W. A. Disimini Dilhara (U. W. A. Priyantha – Akuressa)

3. R. Thehsnsa Nethmini (Lakmini – Hakmana)

Team events

Cricket (Men)

Champs – Beruwala

Runners up – Ambalantota

Cricket (Women)

Champs – Hakmana

Runners up – Tangalla

Hand ball

Champs – Galle

Runners up – Kalawana, Badureliya, Nivithigala and Mathugama combined

Netball

Champs - combined team

Runners up – Dikwella

Football (Men)

Champs – Galle

Runners up – Kalutara