The Lanka Ride Cycling Tour, organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, successfully concluded its first stage in Kandy on Friday after starting earlier in the day from Colombo.
The national cycling event began at 9 a.m. in front of the Lake House premises, with 27 cycling teams representing clubs and institutions across the country taking part.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Minister of Highways, Transport and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Arun Bandara, and Director General of the Department of Sports Development S. Achchudan. Also present were Lake House Chairman Gamini Warushamana, Editorial Director Sisira Yapa, senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and high-ranking officers from the Sri Lanka Army, Air Force, and Police.
The first stage of the race ended in Kandy, where prizes were awarded to the top five cyclists. H.W.M.S. Pintu, racing under number 193, won first place after completing the stage in 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 41 seconds. A.D.S. Perera, competing under number 195, finished second, with both cyclists representing the Sri Lanka Army cycling team. Deshan Kavinda of the Ja-Ela Flash Cycling Team placed third, while Suranga Ranawira finished fourth and Sithum Poorna claimed fifth place.
The second stage of the Lanka Ride Cycling Tour is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday from in front of the Gannoruwa Agricultural Research Center, with cyclists traveling from Kandy to Anuradhapura.
The final stage will take place on Sunday, returning from Anuradhapura to Colombo.
The event aims to promote competitive cycling, encourage youth participation in sports, and raise public awareness of cycling as both a professional and recreational activity in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)