Ayomal Perera national record run of 49.03 seconds earned Sri Lanka silver in the 400m hurdles and ended a 26-year wait.
The Ayomal Perera national record ended a 26-year wait as the emerging Sri Lankan hurdler claimed silver at the Asian Under-23 Athletics Championships.
Perera produced a historic performance in the men’s 400-metre hurdles final, finishing in 49.03 seconds against some of Asia’s leading young athletes.
His run secured the silver medal and erased one of Sri Lankan athletics’ longest-standing national records.
Ayomal Perera National Record Breaks Historic Mark
Perera competed strongly from the opening stages and maintained his challenge throughout the final.
He crossed the line in 49.03 seconds, improving the previous Sri Lankan record by 0.41 seconds.
Harijan Ratnayake had held the earlier mark of 49.44 seconds since August 31, 2000. He recorded that time at the Asian Athletics Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Perera’s achievement therefore ended a national-record drought lasting almost 26 years.
The performance also added a major international silver medal to his growing athletics career.
New Hope for Sri Lankan Athletics
The importance of the result extends beyond the medal itself.
By lowering the national record so decisively, Perera has renewed optimism about Sri Lanka’s ability to compete at a higher international level.
Reports also indicate that he now holds Sri Lanka’s youth, junior and senior national records in the event.
Athletics observers view the breakthrough as an encouraging sign ahead of future international competitions.
Perera’s 49.03-second run has now established a demanding new benchmark for Sri Lankan hurdlers while confirming his status as one of the country’s brightest emerging athletics prospects.
