Lahiru Avishka does his school proud

Sri Lanka Schools John Tarbet under 18 record holder 17 year old Lahiru Avishka Garusinghe brought honour and glory to his Alma Mater Senanayake National School Madampe.

Lahiru was admitted to Grade One of St. Sebastian’s College Madampe in 2009 and during this period there was no Athletics at this school and after passing the Grade Five Scholarship Examination he was admitted to the Grade Six of Senanayake National School Madampe in 2014 and his parents Lalith Garusinghe and Ayona Kumudini noticing his keenness for Athletics handed over their son to the Athletic Coach and Master in Charge of Athletics of his new school Chandana Deepal in 2015.

In the Same year he participated in the under 13 age group for the school Inter House Sports Meet in 2015 and in 100, 200 metres and Long Jump he swept the board and became the Champion Athlete and in the Divisional Meet he came first in 200 metres and second in 100 metres and third in Long Jump and at the Zonal meet he was second in 200 metres and third in Long Jump. Then in the 200 metres in the Provincial Meet he came first with a record timing and won Provincial Colours.

In 2016 once again he swept the board in 100, 200 and 400 metres at the schools sports meet and became the Champion Athlete and awarded the Best Athlete Award after qualifying at the lower meets and in the Provincial Meet he was placed in 400 metres and in 2017 too and in the under 16 age group he came second in the Provincial meet for 800 metres.

Participating in the under 15 age category at the John Tarbet Meet in 800 metres he set a record with a timing of two minutes 4.9 seconds and won the Meet Colours and Medals. In 2018 at the Junior Nationals he came second in 800 metres and in 2018 at the under 16 age group at the John Tarbet Meet he broke the former record held by Manoj Pushpakumara of Walala Central for 18 years by clocking one minute and 59.02 seconds and again in the same year at the schools All Island Meet he came second in the 800 metres. With these performances under his belt he was selected to participate in the Youth Asian Meet in Hong Kong and he participated in the 800 and 2000 metres Steeple Chase he ended up seventh out of 43 competitors and it was a very fine exposure for him and for his performances he was felicitated by the Principal Nimal Dayasiri. coach Chandana Deepal, school authorities, past pupils and the parents. In the mean time he has got through the Ordinary Level Examination with four A’s three B’s and 2 C’s.