NOC Sri Lanka Awards Prestigious IOC Olympic Scholarships to Eight Promising Athletes for Los Angeles 2028
Updated Date: 14th October, 2025
Colombo, 14 October 2025 – Eight of Sri Lanka’s most promising athletes have been officially awarded the IOC Olympic Solidarity Scholarships for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, marking a significant milestone in their journey toward Olympic qualification.
The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC Sri Lanka) called for applications from affiliated National Federations (NFs) to nominate high-performing athletes with the potential to qualify for LA 2028. A total of 44 athletes applied, of which 42 completed the application process before the scheduled interviews.
An independent three-member selection committee carefully screened all submissions, shortlisting 9 athletes for interviews conducted alongside their coaches and parents. These interviews focused on evaluating the athletes’ long-term training and competition plans in alignment with the LA 2028 Olympic pathway. Following the evaluations, nine athletes were nominated; the maximum number Sri Lanka is eligible to submit under the IOC–OS programme.
After the subsequent evaluation and screening process conducted by the IOC Olympic Solidarity and the respective International Federations (IFs), eight Sri Lankan athletes were approved to receive scholarships for the LA 2028 Olympic cycle.
After the final evaluation and screening by the IOC Olympic Solidarity and the relevant International Federations (IFs), eight athletes were officially approved to receive scholarships for the LA 2028 Olympic cycle.
The total financial allocation for this programme amounts to USD 9,000. A special category scholarship has been allocated to United World Wrestling (UWW) to manage the scholarship of Ms. Nethmi Ahinsa (Wrestling), while the remaining funds have been distributed among the other selected athletes.
1. Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando (Wrestling – 57kg)
' National Ranking: 1st
' World Ranking: 43rd as of 13th October 2025
' Named as Wrestler of the Month by the United World Wrestling in June 2025
' 3rd Place – 2025 U23 Asian Championships (57kg, Vietnam)
' 3rd place at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (57kg, United Kingdom)
' 3rd place at the 2024 U20 Asian Championships (53kg, Thailand)
' 3rd place at the 2024 U20 World Championships (53kg, Spain)
' 5th place at the 2024 Senior Asian Championships (53kg, Kyrgyzstan)
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5th place at the 2022 U23 World Championships (55kg, Spain)
2. Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (Athletics - Javelin Throw)
' National Ranking: 2nd
' World Ranking: 9th as of 13th October 2025
' National Record Holder (86.5m at 1st Round of the Men’s Javelin Throw at the World Athletics Continnental Tour – Bronze in India
' Asian Throwing Championships 2024, South Korea: Gold Medalist (Established new meet record – 85.45m)
'
World Junior Championships 2022, Colombia: 6th place (70.68m)
3. Aruna Dharshana (Athletics - 400m)
' National Ranking: 2nd
' 17th Place (44.99 sec) -Olympic Games, France Paris, 2024 (Personal best)
' 1st Place (45.79 sec - 1st (N.C.R) Asian U20 Champ: Gifu Japan, 2018
' 1st Place (46.69 sec) - SAG Games, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2019
' 2nd Place (45.88 sec) - Continental Tour 2nd, Nassau, Bahamas, 2024
' 1st Place (45.30 sec) - Army Championship, Sri Lanka, 2024
' 1st Place 45.48 sec - Continental Tour, Chongqing, China, 2024
'
1st Place (45.50 sec) – Sri Lanka Nationals, Sri Lanka, 2024
4. Lesandu Arthavidu (Athletics - High Jump)
' Asian Senior Championship, Gumi, Korea (May 27, 2025): 8th place (2.10m)
' National Trials, Colombo, Sri Lanka (March 9, 2025): 1st place (2.22m) – Sri Lanka Junior Record
' Junior South Asian Championship, Chennai, India (September 18, 2024): 1st place (2.7m) – South Asia Junior Record
' Asian Youth Championship, Kuwait (October 15, 2022): 3rd place (1.97m)
'
Commonwealth Youth Games, Trinidad & Tobago (August 9, 2023): 4th place (1.94m)
5. Tharushi Abhisheka (Athletics - 800m & 1500m)
' National Ranking: Junior No. 01 in 800m, 1500m
' Gold Medalist (Women’s 800m) - Asian Under 18 Championships 2025
' Gold Medalist (800m) - South Asian Junior Championship 2024
' Silver Medalist (Medley Relay) - Asian Youth Championship 2025
'
Sri Lankan Junior record holder for Women’s 800m and 1500m
6. Hiruki de Silva (Swimming – 100 & 200m Freestyle)
' National Ranking – 1st
' National Record Holder in the 200m Individual Medley
' Ranked 9th in 400m Freestyle at Commonwealth Youth Games, Trinidad and Tobago, 2023.
' Silver Medal – 2*100m Freestyle relay at South Asian Games, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2019.
' National Champion for 2 consecutive years (2023,2024) - Sri Lanka National Swimming Championships.
' Ranked the highest among South Asian swimmers and 41st overall in the 200m Freestyle event at the World Aquatic Championships, Singapore 2025.
'
Awarded best player of the year at Sri Lanka Sports Festival 2024.
7. Ranithma Liyanage (Badminton - Singles)
' National Ranking: 03rd
' BWF World Rankings - Women's Singles: 94th as at 23rd September 2025
' BWF Junior Rankings - Women's Singles: 05th as at 23rd September 2025
' National Champion Women's Singles (2022, 2023, 2024) and Mixed Doubles (2024)
' Pre-Quarter Finalist (Women’s Singles) - World Junior 2024 (first ever for a Sri Lankan Badminton player)
' Quarter Finalist (Women’s Singles) - St. Denis International Badminton Challenge 2024
' Runner-up (Women’s Singles) - Bahrain International Series I - 2024
'
Semi-Finalist (Women’s Singles) - Bahrain International Series II - 2024
8. Viren Nettasinghe (Badminton - Singles)
' BWF World Rankings - Men's Singles: 65th as at 23rd September 2025
' Olympic Participation: Participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics as the youngest direct qualifier.
' Bronze Medalist - Hundred Sri Lanka International Challenge
' Quarter-finalist - SBH Singapore International Challenge 2025
' Pre-quarter finalist - Princess Sirivannavari Thailand Masters.
' Sri Lanka National Champion 2024 (Men's Singles and Mixed Doubles)
' Gold Medalist - Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge 2024
' Bronze Medalist – 32nd Iran Fajr International Challenge 2024
' Bronze Medalist - Victor Swedish Open 2024
' Pre-quarter finalist (Individual Event) – 19th Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China in 2023
' Silver Medalist - Expora Indonesia International Challenge 2023
' Bronze Medalist - Uganda International Challenge 2023
'
Bronze Medalist - Li-Ning Maldives International Challenge 2023
Along with the Press Conference of Team Sri Lanka for 3rd Asian Youth Games Bahrain 2025, a special ceremony was held on 11th October 2025 at the Duncan White Auditorium, Ministry of Sports, to ceremonially award the scholarships.
Among the recipients present at the event were Nethmi Ahinsa, Rumesh Tharanga, Aruna Dharshana, Lesandu Arthavidu, and Hiruki de Silva. Due to international training and competition commitments, Ranithma Liyanage, Tharushi Abhisheka, and Viren Nettasinghe were unable to attend in person, and their scholarships were accepted by their parents.
Addressing the young athletes bound for the 3rd Asian Youth Games, President of NOC Sri Lanka, Mr. Suresh Subramaniam, encouraged them to remain dedicated and continue enhancing their skills, noting that such commitment can lead to international recognition and opportunities such as these scholarships. He congratulated the scholarship recipients, commending their hard work and dedication, and reaffirmed NOC Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to supporting them in their journey toward Los Angeles 2028.
These scholarships represent a vital step in Sri Lanka’s long-term Olympic preparation strategy, underscoring NOC Sri Lanka’s mission to nurture high-performing athletes capable of competing at the highest level of international sport.
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