‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’ kicks off new era for cycling in Sri Lanka

 The winner of the SLT Speed up Cycle Sawariya Darshana Prasad raises his trophy in the company of cheering SLT Chairman  Kumarasinghe Sirisena (centre), Group CEO Dileepa Wijesundera (right) and  CMO Ajantha Seneviratne

Seated with Sri Lanka Telecom’s Chief Marketing Officer Ajantha Seneviratne, it is not difficult to recognise the glow of pride as he describes the post-event results of the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya,’ which came to an end on 31 July at the Municipal Grounds in Batticaloa. 

“This has been a new and unique experience for all of us at SLT and the feedback we have received following the conclusion of the event has been indescribably positive. It is my belief that value to the sport came not from the value of the prizes or the length of the race, but rather the recognition gained by the cyclists. The skill, dedication and teamwork of the cyclists was truly admirable and the enthusiasm shown by the masses was most encouraging, both to the organisers as well as the participants. This is one of the main reasons why we are determined to take cycling well beyond what was experienced at the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’.

“As a company we plan to continue supporting the sport by taking the lead and joining hands with other corporates to aid in the training of cyclists by providing them with modern facilities and the latest technology. It is our intention to bring in the use of telecommunication as a means of tracking the progress of each cyclist during the race. We at SLT believe that the right mix of technology will help raise the standard of cycling to be worthy of recognition on the international racetrack.”

Seneviratne was not the only one glowing with pride following the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’. The three winners of the men’s race shared their views and experiences in a recent interview. 

Darshana Prasad

“My career just enjoyed a winning start” – Overall Champion, Darshana Prasad of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Q: How did you feel when you first heard about the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’?

A: I was really happy and very eager to compete. I knew that it was going to be a massive event in the country and considered a blessing for all cyclists.

Q: Did you expect to win the competition? 

A: Well, it was my dream but I had never won an overall title in my professional career before, so it was a huge moment for me as I rode past some of the favorites to win the overall title in country’s biggest cycle race ever.

Q: How did you prepare for the event? 

A: A lot of hard work went in in to preparation. It was a five-day event and I am happy I managed to reap the fruits of my hard work and commitment.

Q: Do you think the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’ is a turning point for cycling in Sri Lanka? 

A: Yes, this is a big turning point in our history. I am grateful to SLT for organising this event and for their generous contributions. Sports need such generous patrons to prosper and SLT has just given the sport of cycling the boost it has long been waiting for. I hope we can take it from here and develop it further.

Charith Fernando 

A high standard was maintained throughout the race” – Charith Fernando of the Sri Lanka Army, First Runner-Up of the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’.

Q: What were your expectations at the start of the five-day race?

A: Like everyone else, it was my dream to win it.  I represented the Sri Lanka Army, so we were keen to make the Army proud as well.

Q: How do you compare this race with other races you have competed in before?

A: To be honest, the organisational aspect of the game was at a very high level. The riders never had any issues as everything was perfectly in place for them to perform. I think they maintained the high standard, usually followed in international races.

Q: How has the response been following your impressive performance, where you finished second in the race?

A: This event attracted lots of publicity from the outset, which is a very good thing. A lot had been done to gain public support for the race. I am actually getting overwhelming responses from fans.

Q: What kind of impact has the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’ brought to your professional riding career? 

A: I represent the Sri Lanka Army. Our main aim is to win as much races as possible to keep Army flag flying high while improving our own performances. So I believe this was the best opportunity we’ve had in the recent past to realise our goals.

Jeewan  Jayasinghe

“Sri Lanka has great potential to take cycling to the next level” – Jeewan Jayasinghe of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Second Runner-Up of the ‘SLT  Speedup  Sawariya’.

Q: You are the fastest cyclist in South Asia. I am sure you expected much more than what you got at the end of the five-day event? 

A: Yes, certainly. I expected to win. But I am happy that we managed to win the team title for the Air Force.

Q: How excited were you to compete in this historical cycling event?

A: I was very anxious to be honest. Not very often do we get races of this magnitude. Like everyone else, I was looking forward to the event and to putting in my best effort to secure a win. We have lots of potential in this country and this race proved that.

Q: As a professional rider, how do you feel about the ‘SLT Speedup Sawariya’?

A: I have competed in local and international races and this was certainly conducted according to international standards. If we can continue to organise races such as this, it will definitely help to take the sport to the next level.

Q: What’s your assessment of the race and its impact on the sport in Sri Lanka? 

A: This was such a huge event. There was lots of publicity for the event and it was clear that a lot of effort had gone into planning it. Like I said before we need to organise races like this more often to help the sport reach the next level.