Navy shines at 08th Open Shooting Championship Rifle / Pistol 2024

Showcasing exceptional marksmanship skills, the Navy recorded a number of achievements at the 08th Open Shooting Championship Rifle / Pistol 2024 held at the Small-Bore Firing Range Complex of Welisara from 16th to 22nd March 2024.

The prize awarding ceremony, held on 23rd March, was graced by the Chief of Staff the Navy, Rear Admiral Pradeep Rathnayake, as the Chief Guest. He awarded certificates and trophies to the winners, congratulating them on their remarkable achievements.

The tournament, which featured participation from the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Schools Shooting Sports Association and renowned sports clubs in the country.

Accordingly, Leading Transport Assistant DMSM Dissanayake won the silver medal in 10M Air Pistol Men Individual event. Similarly, Leading Engineering Mechanic UDS Ranganath won the silver medal in 10M Air Rifle Men Individual event. The gold medal in 25M Standard Pistol Men Open Individual was won by Petty Officer WMK Kumara. He also won the bronze medals in 25M Rapid Fire Men’s Open Individual and 25M Military Pistol Men Open Individual events. In 25M Sport Pistol Women Open Individual and 25M Military Pistol Women Open Individual events, the bronze medals were won by Woman Leading Seaman KGDT Dilrukshi.

Meanwhile, Leading Seaman NP Vijayarupa and Leading Infantryman HDP Kumara won the gold and silver medals in 50M Rifle 3x20 Men Open Individual event. In 50M Rifle 3x20 Women’s Open Individual event, the gold and silver medals were won by Woman Leading Seaman WMSY Perera and Woman Leading Seaman BLT Sandamali. Further, Leading Seaman HDP Kumara, Leading Seaman NP Vijayarupa and Leading Engineering Mechanic UDS Ranganath won the gold, silver and bronze medals in 50M Rifle Prone Men’s Open Individual event. Further, Woman Leading Seaman WMSY Perera, Woman Leading Seaman BLT Sandamali and Woman Ordinary Seaman WMH Wijerathna won the top three honours in 50M Rifle Prone Women Open Individual event.

In 10 M Air Pistol Men Junior Individual, LLB Wijayarathne (gold) from Sports Shooting Club of – Nuwara Eliya, 10 M Air Pistol Women Junior Individual, UKDT Geethma (gold) from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Air Pistol Men Youth Individual, SM Rathnayake (gold) from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Air Pistol Women Youth Individual, VS Senevirathne (gold) from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Air Pistol Men Open Individual, Warrant Officer I MASB Ranasinghe (gold) from Sri Lanka Air Force and 10 M Air Pistol Women Open Individual, UKDT Geethma (gold) from Magam Sport Shooting Club won medals.

Moreover, in 10 M Air Rifle Men Youth Individual, UTP Rodrigo (gold) from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Air Rifle Women Youth Individual, SD Galagedara (gold) from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Air Rifle Men Junior Individual, KM Mendis (gold) from Sri Lanka school shooting sports Association, 10 M Air Rifle Women Junior Individual, DPAC Senadeera (gold) from Athugala Sport Shooting Club, 10 M Air Rifle Men Open Individual, Captain PKJS Gayanga (gold) from Army Small Arm Association, 10 M Air Rifle Women Open Individual, PKLU Pasqual (gold) from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, and 10 M Break Barrel Air Pistol Men Youth Individual, AK Dineth (gold) from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association won major honours.

In 10 M Break Barrel Air Pistol Women Youth Individual, KPU Dewsara from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Break Barrel Air Pistol Women Junior Individual, ETJABSilva from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Break Barrel Air Rifle Men Junior Individual, RMPT Bandara from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Break Barrel Air Rifle Women Junior Individual, TR Kalansooriya from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, and 10 M Break Barrel Air Rifle Men Youth Individual, YPAMS Bandara from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association won gold medals.

In 10 M Break Barrel Air Rifle Women Youth Individual, S Dias from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, 10 M Break Barrel Air Rifle Men Open Individual, S Senanayake from Cambrian Shooting Club, and 10 M Break Barrel Air Rifle Women Open Individual, WMR Prathibha from Magam Sport Shooting Club won gold medals.

In addition, MFM Sabith, WDO Sasmin, OP Mahawattage, UHV Penula, E Kasthuriarachchi, N Amarajeewa, IRA Dinhara and MRA Prabodani from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association as well as GLHB Vethmin from St. Thomas Preparatory Schools, Colombo and WMLD Weerasooriya from Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha were adjudged Sharp Shooters.

Further, in 25 M Standard Pistol Men Open Individual, Petty Officer WMK Kumara from Sri Lanka Navy, 25 M Sport Pistol Women Open Individual, R Abeymanna from Negombo Rifle Club, 25 M Sport Pistol Women Junior Individual, UKDT Geethma from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association, and Corporal NGD Namalgamuwa from Army Small Arms Association won gold medals.

In 25 M Military Rapid Fire Pistol Men Open Individual, Corporal ADD Karunathilaka from Army Small Arms Association, 25 M Military Rapid Fire Pistol Women Open Individual, Staff Sergeant AIDA Kulathunga from Army Small Arms Association, 50 M Rifle 3x20 Men Open Individual, Leading Seaman NP Wijayarupa from Sri Lanka Navy and 50 M Rifle 3x20 Women Open Individual, Woman Leading Seaman WMSY Perera from Sri Lanka Navy won gold medals.

Further, Leading Seaman HDP Kumara, Leading Seaman NP Vijayarupa and Leading Engineering Mechanic UDS Ranganath won the gold, silver and bronze medals in 50M Rifle Prone Men’s Open Individual event. Similarly, Woman Leading Seaman WMSY Perera, Woman Leading Seaman BLT Sandamali and Woman Ordinary Seaman WMH Wijerathna won the top three honours in 50M Rifle Prone Women Open Individual event.

RMPT Bandara from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Break Barrel Junior Shooter – Men), TR Kalansooriya from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Break Barrel Junior Shooter – Women), YPAMS Bandara from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Break Barrel Youth Shooter – Men), S Dias from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Break Barrel Youth Shooter – Women), KM Mendis from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Rifle Shooter Junior – Men), DPAC Senadeera from Athugala Sports Shooting Club (Best Rifle Shooter Junior – Women), LLB Wijayarathna from Sports Shooting Club of Nuwara Eliya (Best Pistol Shooter Junior – Men) and UKDT Geethma from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Pistol Shooter Junior – Women) won respective awards for their noteworthy performances.

In addition, UPT Rodrigo from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Rifle Shooter Youth – Men), T Dasanayake from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Rifle Shooter Youth – Women), UJSP Sarathchandra from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Pistol Shooter Youth – Men), VB De Silva from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Pistol Shooter Youth – Women), Petty Officer WMK Kumara from Sri Lanka Navy (Best Pistol Shooter Open – Men), UKDT Geethma from Sri Lanka School Shooting Sports Association (Best Pistol Shooter Open – Women), Leading Infantryman HDP Kumara from Sri Lanka Navy (Best Rifle Shooter Open – Men), Woman Leading Seaman WMSY Perera from Sri Lanka Navy (Best Rifle Shooter Open – Women) and DMOTB Dassanayaka from Siyana Rifle Shooting Club (Junior Shooter of the Event) also won coveted trophies.

The prize awarding ceremony was also attended by Director General Operations Rear Admiral Nishantha Peiris, Director General Budget and Finance, Rear Admiral Manjula Dissanayake, a group of officers from the Tri-Services, President of the Sri Lanka Schools Shooting Sports Association, Masters in Charge of school shooting clubs and distinguished guests.