Eight-member Sri Lanka team for Paralympics
Dialog fuels Sri Lanka’s ambitions:
Yushan Gunathilake, Head of Business, Mobile Telecommunications at Dialog Axiata PLC, formally presented the official sponsorship for the Sri Lankan contingent to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to Samitha Dulan, Team Captain, and Col. Deepal Herath, President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC). The sponsorship handover ceremony was also attended by Asith De Silva – Senior Manager of Social Innovation at Dialog Axiata PLC, along with members of the Sri Lankan Paralympic team for the 2024 Paris Para Games. Yushan Gunathilake, Head of Business, Mobile Telecommunications at Dialog Axiata PLC, formally presented the official sponsorship for the Sri Lankan contingent to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to Samitha Dulan, Team Captain, and Col. Deepal Herath, President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC). The sponsorship handover ceremony was also attended by Asith De Silva – Senior Manager of Social Innovation at Dialog Axiata PLC, along with members of the Sri Lankan Paralympic team for the 2024 Paris Para Games.
The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Paralympics will be held today (28) where around 4,400 para-athletes from 184 global delegations will be present.
Like the Olympics, the Paralympics’ opening ceremony will not be held in a stadium but will instead take place outside at the Place de la Concorde, which was transformed into an “urban park” for the Olympic Games hosting the skateboarding, freestyle BMX, 3×3 basketball and breaking.
It has been reported that legendary Chinese martial artist actor Jackie Chan will carry the torch just hours before the start of the opening ceremony.
The flame, which was ignited on last Saturday (August 24) in Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, arrived in France through the Channel Tunnel on Sunday, carried by wheelchair fencing medalist Emmanuelle Assmann.
Eight-member Sri Lanka team
Meanwhile the eight member Sri Lanka Paralympic team which is sponsored by Dialog Axiata PLC already reached Paris and hope to take part today at opening ceremony. The skipper of the team Samitha Dulan is the flag barrier today and Sri Lanka team is expected to take part while only swimmer of the Sri Lanka team Naveed Raheem is expected to compete in the first event S 9 400m free style heats tomorrow from 10 am onwards. If he will qualify for the final once again Raheem will be in action on August 29 at 5.30pm while Nuwan Indika will be the first Sri Lankan athlete to compete in the T- 44 100m heats on August 31 at 7 pm followed by finals on September 1 at 7 pm.
Supported by Dialog’s enduring partnership, these athletes are set to inspire with their talent, grit, and unwavering dedication. Since 2000, the collaboration between Dialog and the NPC of Sri Lanka has been instrumental in creating an environment where these athletes can thrive and achieve international success. This long-standing partnership is a testament to Dialog’s unwavering commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities.
This is the largest Athletics team Sri Lanka has ever sent to the Paralympics and our preparation is intense and many athletes hope to give of their best, said President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Colonial Deepal Herath who is also the Chef de Mission of the tour party.
At the Tokyo Paralympics 2021 Sri Lanka bagged two medals first ever Gold from Dinesh Priyantha Herath and bronze from Samitha Dulan while we hope highest number of medals for Sri Lanka this time. Apart from Skipper Samitha Dulan who will compete in F-44 javelin throw new talents like Nuwan Indika in T44 100m , Palitha Bandara F 42/63 Shot Putt and Pradeep Somasiri T-46 1500m are high hopes at this Paris Paralympics, he said.
National Athletic coach Y.K Kularatne who is the coach of Nuwan Indika said at least athletics have to reach their personal best at the events. Our team comes with the firm intention of following in Dinesh Herath’s footsteps by winning a medal. The Sri Lanka team with its blend of experience youth and determination is ready to represent the nation on the global stage. We are ready to give it our all and show that Sri Lanka not only participates but complete at highest level to take medals concluded NPC President Colonel Deepal Herath.
Sri Lanka Paralympic team players events and dates:
August 29 – Naveed Raheem Swimming S9 400m freestyle heats
August 30 to September 7 – Suresh Dharmasena Wheel chair Tennis open singles
August 31 – Nuwan Indika – T 44 100m heats finals on September 1 st
August 31 – Pradeep Somasiri T 46 1500m final
September 1 – Anil Prasanna Jayalath T 42/63 100m heats and finals on September 2 nd
September 2 – Samitha Dulan F 44 Javelin Throw finals
September 6 – Janani Dhananjana T 47 long jump final
September 7 – Palitha Bandara F 42/63 Shot Put final