Colombo, 08 July 2024 – The excitement is palpable in Sri Lanka as the nation prepares to cheer on its Olympic athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Sri Lanka has proudly qualified six athletes for the Games, who will compete in Badminton, Swimming, and Track and Field events from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
The athletes representing Sri Lanka are:
- Badminton: Viren Nettasinghe (Men’s Singles)
- Swimming: Ganga Senavirathne (Women’s 100m Backstroke), Kyle Abeysinghe (Men’s 100m Freestyle)
- Athletics: Tharushi Karunarathne (Women’s 800m), Nadeesha Lekamge (Women’s Javelin Throw), Aruna Darshana (Men’s 400m)
Viren Nettasinghe, ranked 74th in the world, is the youngest athlete to secure direct qualification for the Games. Ganga Senavirathne and Kyle Abeysinghe qualified with impressive FINA points of 688 and 776, respectively. Nadeesha Lekamge is the highest-ranked Sri Lankan athlete at Paris 2024, standing 25th among the top 32 qualifiers. Tharushi Karunarathne, gold medalist in the 800m at the 19th Asian Games, is ranked 44th among the top 48 qualifiers. Aruna Darshana, ranked 47th among the top 48, is the first male track athlete from Sri Lanka to qualify for the Olympic 400m event in 20 years.
Official Partners Announced
MAS Holdings has been announced as the Official Clothing Partner for the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka for Paris 2024. They will provide uniforms, including tracksuits, t-shirts, shorts, and caps for the team.
LOVI Ceylon will serve as the Official Opening Ceremony Attire Partner for Team Sri Lanka, ensuring the athletes are elegantly dressed for the grand event.
MoraSpirit will offer media support to Team Sri Lanka in partnership with the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.
LOVI Ceylon Goes to Paris 2024 Olympic Games!
An Olympic athlete is rare indeed—fueled by the singular drive to be the best in the world. LOVI honors that drive by dressing our own Sri Lankan Olympians in Paris this year. Our athletes are wearing a modern take on the Nilame (Prince) and Manike (Princess) outfits worn in the royal court. The hand work alone—thousands of beads and embroidery on silks and natural fibers—shares the story of Sri Lanka’s deeply rooted culture, craft, and artistry to the world.
MAS Holdings Announced as Official Clothing Partner for Team Sri Lanka at Paris 2024
MAS Holdings was announced as the official clothing partner of Team Sri Lanka for the Paris Olympic Games 2024 at a ceremony held in Colombo yesterday. The official kits were handed over to the Sri Lanka Olympic contingent. The event coincided with the inauguration of the MAS Athlete Training Academy, an initiative by MAS to identify, develop, and support young athletes to successfully represent Sri Lanka at future Olympic Games.
The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) announced their final contingent for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games 2024 with the six-member contingent comprising three athletes – Dilhani Lekamge, Tharushi Karunarathne, and Aruna Dharshana, two swimmers – Kyle Abeysinghe and Ganga Senevirathne as well as one badminton player, Viren Nettasinghe who will all be first-time Olympians. The members of the Sri Lankan contingent were felicitated by Co-founder and Chairman of MAS Holdings, Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean, who said: “Following some of the most turbulent times in our nation’s history, we believe that it is important now more than ever to tend the flame of Sri Lanka’s Olympic spirit and help inspire a new generation of Sri Lankans to pursue greatness on a global stage.”
The contingent kits were designed by Bodyline Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of MAS. The designs were inspired by the ancient Sri Lankan martial art form Angampora, depicted in the ancient carvings at the Ambekke Temple. Speaking about the Academy, President of the NOCSL Suresh Subramaniam said: “Participating in the Olympic Games is a dream for any athlete. It is crucial for us to inspire the next generation of Olympians and looking at this year’s contingent, we can show them that this dream can become a reality.”
“We are confident in the potential of the academy to bring out the best in our athletes in the years ahead.” The MAS Athlete Training Academy was established through a Rs. 650m investment over eight years and represents Sri Lanka’s single largest public-private partnership in athletics development.
Sri Lanka at 33rd Olympic Games – Paris 2024
Sri Lanka’s contingent will include six athletes, eight officials, and a chef-de-mission. The opening ceremony of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad will commence at 19:30 Paris time on July 26, 2024. Nadeesha Lekamge and Viren Nettasinghe will proudly bear the Sri Lankan flag during this ceremony.
Chef de Mission of Team Sri Lanka, Mr. Chandana Liyanage expressed his enthusiasm: “I am thrilled to lead our talented athletes to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This is a momentous occasion for our nation, showcasing our commitment to excellence in sports on the world stage. Our athletes have trained tirelessly, embodying the spirit of perseverance and dedication. We are confident in their ability to make Sri Lanka proud, inspiring future generations. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all supporters, coaches, and families who have contributed to this journey. Together, we aim for success and celebrate the unity and strength of Team Sri Lanka.”
Sri Lankans eagerly await their chance to witness their champions shine on the global stage.
