The cross-country race of the 49th National Sports Festival concluded successfully at the Golf grounds of Nuwara-Eliya Golf Club. After a tight race with a nail-biting finish, Mutthusami Sivarajan of Central Province won the Men’s race, while Methmi Rasara Wijesuriya of the Eastern Province stamped her class with a dominating performance to clinch the Women’s title. The highly successful race was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the collaboration of the Department of Sports Development.
Talented long-distance athlete Mutthusami Sivarajan of the Central Province clinched the gold medal in the Men’s Cross-Country race with an impressive time of 34 minutes and 21 seconds. The experienced athlete Muthusamy trains at the Air Force Athletics Pool while working for the Sri Lanka Air Force as a leading craftsman. The silver medallist, Samantha Pushpa Kumara of the Western Province, also displayed a splendid performance but was unluckily behind the champion runner by just 20 seconds. The bronze medal also went to the Western Province, as Damith Hemantha Kumara finished the race in third place.
The young national long-distance athlete, Rasara Wijesuriya of the Eastern Province, clinched the gold medal in the NSF Women’s Cross-Country race. She managed to dominate the race from the initial whistle to the last cheer and took first place with an impressive time of 38 minutes and 41 seconds. The champion athlete from the University of Kelaniya managed to shatter national records in the Women’s 10,000 m and 5,000 m events during this year. She set the 10,000 m record at the 2025 World University Games most recently, and the 5,000 m record at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships. She was followed by another talented Walala A. Rathnayake College athlete, Wathsala Madhushani Herath of Central Province, but Rasara was too good for her. After a tight finish for the silver medal, Chamini Samudrika Herath lost to her schoolmate from the Central Province by just 14 seconds.
Athletes from Central Province displayed their talent and endurance during the races and emerged as the team champions in both Men’s and Women’s events.
The 10 kilometer Cross Country race concluded as an open event for the individuals over 15 years old. Athletes from all nine provinces took part in this event and competed for glory. Though the competitors had to perform under the low oxygen levels at Nuwara Eliya, the athletes were up to the task and managed to deliver their very best.
Final Result – Men’s Cross-Country Race
Mutthusami Sivarajan – Central Province – 34 minutes 21 seconds
Samantha Pushpa Kumara – Western Province – 34 minutes 57 seconds
Damith Hemantha Kumara – Western Province – 34 minutes 59 seconds
Final Result – Women’s Cross-Country Race
Methmi Rasara Wijesuriya – Eastern Province – 38 minutes 41 seconds
Wathsala Madhushani Herath – Central Province – 40 minutes 04 seconds
Chamini Samudrika Herath – Central Province – 40 minutes 18 seconds
