Lakshan Fernando of MAS Holdings became the Novices champion athlete at the 36th Mercantile Championship held on August 10 and 11 at the Sugathadasa Stadium where he won gold medals in javelin and discus throws and a silver in the shot putt in the men’s category.Lakshan was an outstanding sportsman produced by St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and was awarded the ‘Josephian Blue’ and Sportsman of the Year in 2010. He emerged as the junior and senior champions in the John Tarbat athletic meets while in school.
Lakshan was selected to represent the country in athletics as a schoolboy and was awarded Sri Lanka colours for athletics. He performed well to win the first places in shot putt, discus and javelin throw events in several athletic meets and received Sri Lanka Schools colours too.
He was an outstanding athlete while studying at General Sir John Kotelawala University where he was the champion athlete for three consecutive years in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
He established new meet records in javelin and shot putt while renewing his own record in javelin for two years. He was awarded University colours for two consecutive years.
Lakshan’s coach Dilruk Nilantha was behind his success in athletics from his school days.
His father Roshan Fernando (Senior DIG) Southern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces was a former Royal College athlete.