Ayomal Storms to Gold with Record-Breaking 400m Run

Teen sensation Ayomal Akalanka lit up the track at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship in Diyagama, clocking 46.59 seconds in the 400m to shatter the meet record and clinch the gold medal.

Akalanka, best known for his prowess in the 400m hurdles, only began competing seriously in flat 400m races this year. Just two months ago, he posted a personal best of 46.46 seconds, and now adds another sub-47 run to his growing resume.

This time, he faced off against Kalhara Indupa, who rose to fame with a heroic anchor leg in the 400m relay during Sri Lanka’s tour of India. But at Diyagama, Indupa couldn’t match Akalanka’s pace. Akalanka stormed to victory, breaking the previous meet record of 46.96 seconds, while Indupa settled for silver with 47.09 seconds.

Hailing from Ambagamuwa Central College, Akalanka trains under Coach Anura Bandara, the same mentor who guided Deputy Sports Minister Sugath Thilakarathne during his prime. Just a day earlier, Akalanka also won gold in the 400m hurdles, setting a new meet record with a time of 50.51 seconds.

With a personal best of 50.20 seconds in the 400m hurdles, Ayomal Akalanka now has his sights firmly set on the Sri Lanka national record of 49.44 seconds, set by Harijan Rathnayaka back in 2000. , Akalanka is also edging closer to becoming second athlete trained by Anura Bandara to break the 46-second barrier in the 400m flat — a milestone that would firmly place him among the country’s all-time track legends.