[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lakshitha Madushan from Weligama SC took the major honours by winning both the Arugambay edition and overall National title with 3,000 points at the Surfing Open/National Championship series finale held in Arugambay over the weekend.

Exciting finals were held throughout yesterday – which incidentally also marked World Tourism Day.

The Arugambay tourism-based economy which faced a catastrophe following the COVID-19 lockdown, received a big boost with several foreigners participating in the open event.

Lakshitha who first participated in the Surfing National event in 2018, became National Champion in his very first attempt, while in 2020 he beat 2019 National Champion Lesitha Prabath to win the title.

The first of the three rounds was held in Madiha surfing point Matara in January, followed by the second round in Hikkaduwa in March before the COVID-19 lockdown. The final round was held in Arugambay in September where Lakshitha shone by winning all three rounds, scoring 1,000 points per round.

“I have been surfing since 2011. We learned a lot by watching videos, and if we had a good coach we could have improved a lot. Even though many years have passed since surfing was popularised, it hasn’t really improved a lot. There aren’t many sponsors for this event, and all we get is the opportunity to simply focus on surfing, which could lead us to win something on behalf of Sri Lanka internationally,” said Lakshitha after his win.

Meanwhile, the open men’s championship which saw surfers from several countries competing was won by Asanka Sanjeewa, while Bar from Israel was placed second and Australia’s Liam Mourad third.

South Africa’s Nikita Robb won the open women’s event followed by Kroot Laesson of Estonia. Sri Lanka’s Anne Jayamanne was third.

A total of 97 surfers participated in the event, including several foreigners, which was organised by Lanka Sportreizen (LSR) with the blessings of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Ministry of Tourism and conducted by the Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka.

Results

Open – Men

1.      Asanka Sanjeewa (Sri Lanka)

2.      Bar (Israel)

3.      Liam Mourad (Australia)

4.      Andra Milan (Sri Lanka)

Open – Women

1.      Nikita Robb (South Africa)

2.      Kroot Laesson (Estonia )

3.      Anne Sunara Jayamanne (Sri Lanka)

4.      Lien Uten(Belgium )

Nationals

1.      Lakshitha Madushan

2.      Asanka Sanjeewa

3.      Lesitha Prabath

4.      Praneeth Sadaruwan

Nationals Overall (Madiha, Hikkaduwa, Arugambay)

1.      Lakshitha Madushan             (Weligama SC) 3000 points

2.      Lesitha Prabath (Arugambay         SC) 2130 points

3.      Praneeth Sandaruwan             (Arugambay SC) 1895 points

By Anjana Kaluarachchi (Ceylon Today)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]