The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has taken immediate steps to provide world champion javelin thrower Rumesha Tharanga with a new set of javelins at government expense, after all five of his competition javelins were damaged during an international flight.
Tharanga, who recently brought glory to Sri Lanka by winning the World Athletics Ultimate Championship and the Diamond League Final, suffered the equipment damage while travelling back from Budapest, Hungary.
The Ministry said the issue has received the direct attention of Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, who has instructed officials to ensure that the damage does not disrupt Tharanga’s training.
The Minister officially announced that a new, high-quality set of javelins would be provided at the government’s full expense as soon as possible.
The Ministry is also looking into obtaining compensation from the airline over the damage to the athlete’s equipment, while further legal and diplomatic action is also being considered.
The Minister stressed that the government would continue to support Tharanga’s ambitions, including his Olympic dream, as Sri Lanka’s star athlete continues to compete at the highest level of international athletics.
