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)

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The Ministry of Sports has announced that the “Lanka Ride 2025” Cycling Tour, organized for the first time in history, will be held from 18- 20 December 2025. 

​The media briefing to announce the Cycling Tour, which is jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Lake House Group, Department of Sports Development, and the Cycling Referees’ Association, was held today at the Sports Ministry yesterday (12). 

​The event was attended by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, Director General of the Department of Sports Development V. Premachandiran, Chairman of the Cycling Referees Association Upul Chandana, and Brand Promotion Manager Darsh Chandrasiri.

​The cycling tour begins on December 18 in front of the Lake House premises, with a 7 km free ride allowed on the starting day. The competition will then officially commence in front of the Peliyagoda Police Station, and cyclists will ride 106 km to Gannoruwa. On the second day (Dec. 19), they will travel 136 km from Kandy, via Dambulla, to reach Anuradhapura. On the third day (Dec. 20), the race will conclude after a 208 km ride from Anuradhapura via the Puttalam road, finishing in front of the Independence Square in Colombo.

​Athletes are provided with the opportunity to enter the competition as teams. A cycling team must include a maximum of 6 players and a minimum of 4 players. The deadline for accepting applications is December 12. 

According to the Sports Ministry, the first-place winner will receive a cash prize of Rs. 600,000, the second-place winner Rs. 500,000, the third-place winner Rs. 400,000, and cash prizes will also be awarded to riders who finish the race up to the 25th place.

​Furthermore, cash prizes are expected to be awarded as follows: Rs. 200,000 for the best youth cyclist under 23, Rs. 100,000 for the best climber (King of the Mountain), Rs. 100,000 for the intermediate sprint winners selected based on points, Rs. 200,000 for the best cycling team, and Rs. 100,000 for the best runner-up team. (Newswire)

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