Ranjith Weerasena, the former Amateur Athletic Association (AAASL) and National Olympic Council (NOC) president passed away yesterday. He became the president of the AAASL in 1978 and after two years he was elected as the president of the NOC. He is also the youngest president of the NOC to be elected at the age of 37, which enabled him to be the youngest person in the history to get into sports administration in the country.
He is an old boy of St. Peter’s College, Colombo. As an athlete he held a 12-year unblemished record in the discus throw event while holding the National Champion’s record for eleven years from 1964 to 1975. He played a pivotal role in extending his support, from his own funds to some of the former top athletes by sponsoring them with their sporting gear. Ranjith Weerasena was conferred the honorary title ‘Kreeda Bhushana’ at the Presidential Sports Awards held at BMICH in 2017.
The funeral will be held on Thursday (15) and the venue will be notified later. His body lies at his residence 368, Galle Road, Colombo-3 near ‘Niko Flowers’. He was 79 years at the time of his demise. (AN)
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