National Para Athletics Championship Marks 26 Years of Dialog’s Support for Para Sports

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, continued its long-standing support of Sri Lanka’s para sports community as the principal sponsor of the 2026 National Open Para Athletics Championship, marking 26 years of partnership with the country’s para sports movement. The championship concluded with the Sri Lanka Army winning the men’s title, while the women’s joint championship was shared by the Vanni Rehabilitation Organization for the Differently Abled (VAROD) and the Ratmalana Blind School.

Among the standout performances at the championship, Paralympic medallist Samitha Dulan was named Best Male Athlete after securing gold in the F64 javelin throw event with a distance of 62.46 metres. Janani Dhananjana was named Best Female Athlete after recording a winning leap of 5.38 metres in the T47 long jump event.

Held on 13 and 14 June at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Diyagama, the 2026 National Open Para Athletics Championship also served as a selection trial for athletes seeking qualification for the Asian Para Games scheduled to be held in Japan in October. The championship witnessed the establishment of 10 new meet records in the men’s category and 10 new meet records in the women’s category.

Dialog Axiata PLC has remained committed to the development and advancement of para sports in Sri Lanka and has continuously supported the para athlete community for 26 years, serving as the principal sponsor of the country’s para sports movement throughout this period.

Dhananjaya Aludeniya, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Sri Lanka, said, “Although there is a significant population of persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka, only a limited number actively participate in competitive society. These para sporting events provide an important platform for inclusion and participation. For approximately 26 years, Dialog has remained by our side as our principal sponsor. We are deeply grateful for the support extended by Dialog, which has enabled our athletes not only to showcase their talents at the national level but also to excel on international stages.”

Harsha Samaranayake, Vice President – Group Marketing of Dialog Axiata PLC, said, “It is important that para athletes are provided with opportunities and platforms to demonstrate their abilities. Dialog remains committed to empowering communities and enriching lives through its corporate social responsibility initiatives. Our continued support for para sports reflects our commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind. We also commend the National Paralympic Committee for its efforts in creating opportunities for athletes to showcase their talents. We extend our congratulations to all the winners and to every athlete who competed with determination and resilience at this championship.”

Dialog Axiata remains committed to creating positive social impact through a range of community investment and engagement initiatives. The company continues to support equal opportunities, celebrate diversity, empower communities, and promote greater inclusion for persons with disabilities across Sri Lanka.