S.L.B. Rosa, the Sri Lankan ace long distance runner won two Bronze medals for 5000 and 10,000 metres at the Asian Games held in Bangkok in 1966 and went on to claim two Gold medals in the 1970 Games in the same events.
An old boy of Bereverts College, Ampitiya, Kandy he started his long distance running career when he won the Cross Country Race organized by Dharmaraja College, Kandy in 1962.
Rosa joined the Sri Lanka Army and then the Ceylon Transport Board and in both Institutions improved his long distance running by practicing the 5000m and 10,000m for a number of years. He secured first place in the 800 m race at the Government Services Meet in 1969 and his timing was 1 minute, 59.8 seconds and in the 5000 metres – 15 minutes, 10.6 seconds representing Ceylon Transport Board. Sunil Jayaweera, former Director General (Sports) of the Department of Education also participated and won the 200 metres in 23.8 secs and 400 metres in 51.4 secs representing the Ministry of Sports, while Stanley Fernando won the 100m in 11.8 secs, 200m in 23.6 secs and 400 metres in 52.6 secs representing Postal Department competing in the Novices events.
Upananda Jayasundera came a close second in all three events representing Kandy Municipal Council as the sole competitor.
Rosa won a scholarship to Visconsin University, U.S.A after winning the 5000 and 10,000 metres events at the Asian Games. He visited Sri Lanka in 2011 and with Jayasundera witnessed Government Services Veterans Meet at the Bogambara Grounds, Kandy. He also visited Dharmaraja College and Mahamaya Girls School, Kandy and gave a lecture on athletics to the schools athletes.
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