27th Sri Lanka Rowing Nationals

The 27th rowing nationals was held on 15th, 16th and 17th of September 2011 on the waters of Bolgoda lake, panadura. After about 10 years of disappearance, Sri Lanka Army also took place in this event making the total number of participation to 17 teams and more than 300 contestants.

The regatta was conducted under age categories, which are:

• under 16
• under 19
• over 19
• open   

                      And in each category, races were for both men and women.


After three days of exciting races, the regatta was ended up with the following results:

MEN'S

Category	First place	Second place	Third place
Open	Sri Lanka Air Force	Colombo Rowing Club	Sri Lanka Navy
Over 19	Sri Lanka Air Force	Sri Lanka Navy	University of Moratuwa
Under 19	Ananda College	Royal College	St Thomas’ College
Under 16	St Thomas’ College	Royal College	Ananda College

WOMEN'S

Category	First place	Second place	Third place
Open	Ladies College	Colombo Rowing Club	Museaus College
Over 19	SL Army	University of Moratuwa	Kothalawala Defense University
Under 19	Ladies College	Colombo Rowing Club	Bishops College
Under 16	Ladies College	Colombo Rowing Club	Museaus College/Bishops College

Under 19 men's coxed fours finals: Ananda College winning the race.

Open men's cox-less fours finals: Sri Lanka Air Force winning the race by a split second beating St. Thomas' College.

 
Mora Rowing Crew:

 This time, moratuwa men's crew(mora) went to the regatta without their seniors rowing, but still managed to grab some medals showcasing some promising talents. their main focus was on the "Over 19" Category and after a close race they were beaten by the "Sri Lanka Air Force-A" in the coxed fours event. The crew was;

Samantha de Silva(B), Dinesh Kasunjith(3), Thilina Buddika(2), Charuka Kavinda(S) and Dasun Madushan(cox)

 

Along with that Samantha De Silva(B) and Charuka Kavinda(S) won the bronze medal in the Over 19 coxless pairs event too.

 The two medals were meant lot to the crew as these oarsmen are just having one year of experience. So it is quite sure that these young talents will achieve new heights in the rowing arena in Sri Lanka as the time goes on. At the same time, another crew of the mora took part in the "open coxless fours" event but managed to cross the finish line at 4th.

Initiating a new chapter in Mora Rowing, the women's crew managed to win a gold medal at this national regatta in the "Over 19" category. As this was the 1st time in mora rowing history, Nuwanthika Rajapakshe(S) and Radhavi Samarakoon (B) were able to race their coxless pair down the 2000m course and emerge 1st at the finish line. 

At the same time Nuwanthika Rajapakshe(S), Ashanthi Fernando(3), Udari de Alwis(2), Radhavi Samarakoon (B) and Nithini Thenuwara(Cox) were able to win the silver medal in the "Over 19" coxed fours event, advancing form the bronze they won last year.

Meanwhile Udari de Alwis(S) and Ashanthi Fernando(B) managed to win the bronze medal in the "Over 19" double sculls, which helped the team to secure the 2nd place in the women's over 19 category.

Winning three medals at the nationals is a remarkable achievement of the mora women's team, not only because this is the first time in the history of mora rowing, but also this has been their second year in rowing.