Indika Dissanayake and Chathuranga Lakmal won gold medals in the 73kg and 67kg weight classes at the Singapore Weightlifting International Championshipswhich is now in progress at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall in Singapore.
Dissanayake the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, once again came to the limelight yesterday lifting 278kg (snatch 128kg, clean and jerk 150kg) to take the gold medal in the 73kg weight class. Chaturanga Lakmal won the gold medal in the 67kg category and their performances paved the way to qualify for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Sudesh Pieris who competed in the 73kg weight category as Dissanayake, had to be satisfied with a silver medal having lifted 269kg (snatch 118kg, clean and jerk 159kg).
Earlier on the first day, Sri Lanka’s Srimali Samarakoon won the gold in the 49kg category while Dilanka Isuru Kumara had to be satisfied with a bronze in the 55kg weight class.
Today is the final day of this event and Sri Lanka will be hoping to win more medals. This is the last opportunity for the Sri Lankan weight lifters to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.
Sri Lanka’s experienced lifters Chinthana Vidhanage and Thilanka Palagasinghe have already qualified and were not included for this Singapore event.