The Sri Lanka Navy and Visakha Vidyalaya managed to clinch the Men’s and Women’s Open Championships respectively, at the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Cup Dragon Boat Championship 2025, held recently at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Battaramulla. The tournament was organized by the National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking in Sri Lanka (NACKSL), in collaboration with the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL), the Ministry of Sports and the Chinese Embassy, in celebration of the Traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Day.
The highly successful regatta event drew over 400 enthusiastic participants representing 25 teams, which will be a motivator for potential players to get involved in the aquatic sport. Though the sport is still in the developing stage in Sri Lanka, there are 82 national associations registered under the International Dragon Boat Federation. Participants included school teams (specially from Northern Province), university teams, club crews, members of the tri-forces and both Chinese and Sri Lankan crews. The regatta consisted of the segments for Open Men’s/Open Women’s, Junior Under 18 Boys’, Junior Under 18 Girls’, Masters Women Over 40 and Open Mixed.
The Open Men’s Final was a nail-biter, and as expected, Sri Lanka Navy emerged as the champions by edging out the formidable Sri Lanka Air Force team. Furthermore, the Diyawanna Rowing Club bagged the third position in the regatta.
In the Junior Boys’ Final, the boys from Thambaddy GTMV, Jaffna, comfortably clinched the title. Hence, the team from Delft Maha Vidyalaya had to be satisfied with a runners-up title. The Colombo powerhouse D. S. Senanayake College rowing crew secured third place in that segment.
In the Open Women’s Championship, Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo dominated the regatta to clinch the title, while the lasses from the University of Sabaragamuwa managed to secure second place.
In addition to the major title, the Visakhians managed to win the Junior Girls’ segment. The champion side was captained by seasoned campaigner Anusara Akmeemana, while the talented youth Thisali Welage did her duties as the Vice Captain. The Thambaddy GTMV girls from Jaffna clinched second place, while the lasses from Delft Maha Vidyalaya claimed third place.
In the Masters Women’s race, the Ceylon SC crew emerged as the champions, while Wave Breakers won second place. Furthermore, the Pink Dragon crew secured a podium finish by being third in the segment.
In the Mixed category Final, the University of Sabaragamuwa clinched the title after a hard-fought competition by beating Chinese Team 03 and Chinese Team 01, who had secured second and third places respectively.
In this spectacular regatta, Hon. Qi Zhenghong, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Hon. Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and other distinguished guests were present at the occasion. Furthermore, the Chinese Embassy made a generous donation of five dragon boats with a value of 50,000 LKR, to Sri Lanka, with the aim of uplifting the aquatic sport in the island.
, in collaboration with the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL), the Ministry of Sports and the Chinese Embassy, in celebration of the Traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Day.){kind=link}