Australian Luke Munro wins SriLankan Pro 2006 Surfers C'ships

Australian surfer Luke Munro won the SriLankan Pro 2006 just concluded in the sunny shores of Pasta Point in the Maldive Islands where over 128 of the world's top surfers challenged the Maldivian waters.

Munro took the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour (World qualifying) series US Dollars 10,000 prize with an 18.1 score with follow Australian. Rhys Bombaci coming second with 14.84.

This was Munro's first major open win after three years on the World Qualifying Circuit and following numerous final placings. Now, he is No. 2 in the ratings and sets himself well for next season's World Championship Tour.

SriLankan Airlines hosted surfing events have grown significantly with each year since it was started in 2000, attracting more international interest and bigger prizes.

Both CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Peter Hill, and Chandana de Silva (Head of Corporate Communications), said that the event in the Maldives was by far the biggest surf event that SriLankan Airlines have had, and that they are preparing to host the last leg of the Japan Professional Surfing Association (JPSA) Annual Championship in November in Hikkaduwa. Last year (2005), it attracted over 125 Japanese professional surfers.

(L.G.)