Tharushi Abhisheka of Wickramabahu National College, Gampola, made history on the second day of the All-Island School Games held at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo, shattering a four-decade-long Under-18 1500m record. Abhisheka clocked an impressive 4:29.97 in the Girls’ Under-18 1500m event, surpassing the previous Sri Lanka Youth (U-18) record of 4:35.7 set by Olympian Dammika Manike in 1985.
At just 16 years old, Abhisheka also broke the Sri Lanka Junior (U-20) record of 4:33.40, which had been held by Shanika Lakshani since 2021. Her remarkable performance has drawn significant attention, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lankan athletics.
In the Boys’ Under-18 400m final, Omel Sashintha of St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana, also made headlines by setting a new Sri Lanka Youth (U-18) 400m record with a time of 46.85 seconds. The 16-year-old South Asian Junior gold medalist, who previously equaled the record earlier this month, surpassed the old record of 47.10 seconds set by Manoj Pushpakumara of Walala A. Rathnayaka Central in 2002. Omel’s stunning performance solidified his status as the sole record-holder in this event.
Both athletes’ achievements highlight the growing talent and potential of young Sri Lankan athletes on the national stage.
