The Gymnastics Championship of the 49th National Sports Festival, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Department of Sports Development, concluded successfully at the Sugathadasa Indoor Sports Complex in Colombo. Gymnasts from Western Province once again proved their exceptional talent and dominated the event, clinching the overall title along with the men’s and women’s championships.
The gymnastics prodigy of St Benedict’s College and the national champion, Nadila Nethviru, displayed a staggering performance and managed to win six individual gold medals with a clean sweep at the men’s events. In addition, he was a part of the Western Province Team who won the gold medal at the team event, and his all-round effort secured him the Best Gymnast Award. This unbelievable achievement is not merely a win but can be considered as a testimony for his unmatched talent.
Best Gymnasts of the event – Nadila Nethviru & Binugi Karunarathne
Nadila made history as the first gymnast from Sri Lanka to reach the finals in the Asian Games artistic gymnastics all-around at the 19th Asian Games, Hangzhou (2023). Further, he was the first-ever Sri Lankan gymnast to compete in a FIG Apparatus World Cup in Doha, April 2024.
Another rising talent, Binugi Karunaratne of Sirimavo Bandaranaike College, clinched a gold and two silver medals at the individual events, apart from her gold medal that she won representing Western Province in the team event. Her magnificent performance at the floor exercise event was instrumental behind her best gymnast of the championship title. The champion, Binugi, was closely contested by N. Nuyara Fernando, who managed to secure three gold medals.
The Western Province gymnastics team clinched the overall championship with a total of 11 gold, two silver and two bronze medals in both men’s and women’s championships. Arunodi Dias from North Central Province clinched the only gold medal that was won by the other provincial athletes, and her stunning performance at the uneven bar event prevented an overall championship clean sweep for Western Province.
Over-all Medal Table
Gold Silver Bronze
Western Province 11 02 03
North Central Province 01 02 00
Central Province 00 04 05
Southern Province 00 03 04
North Western Province 00 01 00
Uva Province 00 00 00
Eastern Province 00 00 00
Sagaramuwa Province 00 00 00
Northern Province 00 00 00
Victorious Western Province team
NSF 2025, Gymnastics Results – Men’s Segment
Pommel Horse
1 A.D.N. Nethviru (WP)
2 M.M.P.T.B. Nawarathna (CP)
3 D.R.S. Ranasinghe (WP)
Parallel Bar
1 A.D.N. Nethviru (WP)
2 M.M.P.T.B. Nawarathna (CP)
3 L.A.S.S. Liyanarachchi (CP)
Roman Rings
1 A.D.N. Nethviru (WP)
2 M.P.L. Wicramasingha (NCP)
3 M.M.P.T.B. Nawarathna (CP)
Floor Exercise
1 A.D.N. Nethviru (WP)
2 H.M.R.K. Herath (NWP)
3 J. T. Hirushan (WP)
Vaulting Table
1 A.D.N. Nethviru (WP)
2 M.M.P.T.B. Nawarathna (CP)
3 H.L.R.D.S. Bandara (SP)
Horizontal Bar
1 A.D.N. Nethviru (WP)
2 H.P.G.M. Mathisha (SP)
3 M.M.P.T.B. Nawarathna (CP)
Provincial Result
Champions – Western Province
A.D.N. Nethviru, A.D.V. Dinsara, Y.R.A. Gunasekara, S.A.R. Riviyuga, Y. Udagedara, L.A.S.S. Liyanarachchi
1st Runner-up – Central Province
M.M.P.T.B. Nawarathna, W.G.L.P. Jayakodi, H. S. Ihaladeniya, W.M.K.S.S. Bandara, L. C. Jayawardhana, D.M.N.M. Yasarathna
2nd Runner-up – Southern Province
B.A.U.C. Mahendra, H.L.R.B.D.S. Bandara, Tharanga Kumara, T. K. Bopage, W.D.N. Sampath, H.P.G.M. Mathisha
All-Round Champions
1 A.D.N. Nethviru – Western Province
2 H.P.G. Manuja Mathisha – Southern Province
3 M.M.P. Thenuka B. Nawarathna – Central Province
- Most outstanding men’s player of the tournament – A. D. Nadila Nethwiru Western Province
NSF 2025, Gymnastics Results – Women’s Segment
Uneven Bar
1 W.A.S. Arunodi Dias (NCP)
2 D. B. Karunarathna (WP)
3 W.G.N.N. Siriwardhana (SP)
Balance Beam
1 N. N. Fernando (WP)
2 D. B. Karunarathna (WP)
3 W.G.N.N. Siriwardhana (SP)
Vault
1 N. N. Ferando (WP)
2 W.A.S. Arunodi Dias (NCP)
3 M. T. Munasinghe (CP)
Floor Exercise
1 D. B Karunarathna (WP)
2 J.L.A.L. Gayathmi (SP)
3 S. S. Warakapitiya (WP)
Team Championship
Winner – Western Province
D.B. Karunarathna, N.N. Ferando, S.S. Warakapitiya , M.T.H. Jayawira, D.G.M.N. Niduwari,
1st Runner-up – Southern Province
J.L.A.L. Gayathmi, D.G.S. Sehansa, E.K.T. Sasindi, P.D.S.N. Wijerathna, H.K.B.M. Nemindi
2nd Runner-up – Central Province
M.T. Munasinghe, A.M.A.H. Alahakoon, M.C. Bandara, T.A. Disanayaka, W.G.S. Sadewma
All-Round Champions
01 D. Binugi Karunarathna – Western Province
02 N. Nuyara Fernando – Western Province
03 S. Sandali Warakapitiya – Western Province
- Most outstanding women’s player of the tournament – D. Binugi Karunaratne of Western Province
