SLAF ATHLETE HONOURED FOR HISTORIC JAVELIN ACHIEVEMENT AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026
Sri Lanka Air Force athlete Rumesh Tharanga, who brought immense pride to the nation by securing the Gold Medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, today (05 August 2026) in recognition of his outstanding achievement.
Sergeant Rumesh Tharanga returned to Sri Lanka after delivering a historic performance at the Commonwealth Games, recording an exceptional throw of 89.75 metres to claim the Gold Medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw event. His remarkable achievement secured a historic Commonwealth Games Athletics Gold Medal for Sri Lanka, bringing immense pride to the nation and marking a significant milestone in the country’s sporting journey.
During the occasion, the Commander of the Air Force also conveyed his appreciation to Retired Warrant Officer Tony Prasanna, the coach who played a vital role in guiding Sergeant Rumesh Tharanga throughout his sporting journey. The Commander further appreciated the commitment and dedicated support extended by Corporal Chandima Gurusinghe, whose contribution as the athlete’s masseur assisted in maintaining the athlete’s physical readiness and performance during his preparation for the international competition.
