New weight lifting record by Ransilu

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Twenty one year old Ransilu Jayatilleke created history when he became the first weight lifter in the history of weight lifting in Sri Lanka to hoist a total of 300 kilogrammes at the Senior Weight Lifting Nationals organised by the Sri Lanka Weight Lifting Federation at the Gymnasium of the University of Kelaniya on Friday night.

Competing in the 94 kg body weight category Ransilu Jayatilleke first snatched 133 kgs and later clean and jerked 167 kgs to make a total lift of 300 Kilogrammes and in the process broke three senior National records held by him. The earlier records held by him were snatch 130 kgs, clean and jerk 160 kgs. Total 290 kilogrammes.

This young weight lifting prodigy has set up over 60 records during his career both at junior and senior levels.