Double honour for marathon specialist Wimalasena Perera

By Leslie Fernando

ATHLETICS: R. A. Wimalasena Perera, a former athletic champion who has participated at several international athletic meets and produced outstanding performances, bringing honour to Sri Lanka was honoured by the Ministry of Sports and Public Recreation with National Sporting Honours at a ceremony held at the BMICH recently.
 

Perera was also honoured for his achievements by the Sri Lanka Vishva Samadhi Foundation at Sri Hathbodhi Vihara at Kirula Road, Narahenpita.

An old boy of Sri Dharmaloka Maha Vidyalaya, Wimalasena Perera was a top athlete during his school days and he set new Sri Lanka Schools record in the 1500 metres ‘clocking 4 minutes 12 seconds in 1963.

In 1964 he joined the Sri Lanka Army and made a warrant officer class I and excelled in his pet event Marathon together with Linus Diaz. Perera also established a new Sri Lanka record in the Marathon event held in 1966 with a time of 2 minutes 22 seconds. His team mate Linus Diaz held the previous mark of 2 minutes and 33 second in 1960.

With his fine performances, Perera was an automatic choice to represent Sri Lanka in the Marathon event in international meets. In 1966, he represented Sri Lanka at the 5th Asian Games held in Bangkok and was placed seventh.

In the same year he participated at the 8th Commonwealth Games in Kingston Jameica, and was placed 15th. In 1967 he ran in the Singapore National Athletic Championships in the 5000 and 10000 metres events and won silver medals in both events.

He was placed 51st out of 87 competitors in the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico. In 1969 Perera took 4th position in the Hong Kong Marathon. From 1966 to 1991 Wimalasena Perera held the national record in the Marathon event.

The 63 year-old Wimalasena Perera is residing at Waragoda, Kelaniya and now concentrates on Social Service in the area. He is the Secretary of Kelaniya Social Service Society.