Golden Jubilee National Sports Festival 2026: Cross Country Champions Crowned in Nuwara Eliya
Emerging long-distance runners Vicknaraj Vakshan of Central Province and Rasara Wijesooriya of Eastern Province clinched the men’s and women’s gold medals respectively at the Cross Country Championship of the Golden Jubilee National Sports Festival (NSF) 2026, held at the Racecourse ground in Nuwara Eliya.
The cross-country event marked the opening competition of the NSF 2026 calendar, which features 32 sporting disciplines and is jointly organised by the Ministry of Sports and the Department of Sports Development.
A total of 122 athletes representing all nine provinces participated in the championship, including 77 male and 45 female competitors.
Vakshan secured the men’s title with a winning time of 33 minutes and 28.81 seconds. His teammate Kujendra Prasan also from Central Province finished second in 33:40.01, while M. Gopinathan of Uva Province placed third in 34:00.41.
In the women’s category, Rasara Wijesooriya emerged victorious with a time of 38:05.96. Chamini Herath of Central Province finished second in 38:35.78, followed by Madushani Herath, also from Central Province, who took third place in 39:48.67.
Overall team honours went to Uva Province in the men’s category, while Central Province claimed the women’s team championship.
