Akalanka Peiris

Dimuth Akalanka Peiris also known as Dimuth Peiris (born 11 January 2000) is a Sri Lankan male swimmer and a national record holder in swimming.[1] He represented Sri Lanka at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and competed in swimming competitions.[2] In August 2018, he became the first ever Sri Lankan student to sit for a Sri Lankan GCE A/L examinations outside Sri Lanka as he was granted special permission to write A/L exams in Jakarta, Indonesia just prior to his preparations for the 2018 Asian Games.[3][4] He represented Sri Lanka at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in October 2018 which was held in Argentina.[5] He also went onto represent Sri Lanka at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships as the only male swimmer.[6]

Akalanka Peiris
Personal information
Full nameDimuth Akalanka Peiris
Nationality Sri Lanka
Born (2000-01-11) 11 January 2000
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming

Career

Akalanka Peiris has set national swimming records in 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 4×100m freestyle relay events. In 2017, he set the new Sri Lankan national record in men's 100m backstroke event.[7]

He later claimed two more national records in both 50m backstroke[8] and 4×100m freestyle relay events during the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[9]

2018 Asian Games

Akalanka Peiris also qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the 2018 Asian Games when he was on the verge of his A/L examinations. However he was approved by the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka to take three of his A/L papers to Jakarta and was allowed to sit for the exams in the Sri Lanka embassy in Jakarta.[10] This instance also made him the only Sri Lankan to sit for the A/L examinations in a foreign country.[11] Due to his examinations, he missed out to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games.[12]

2018 Summer Youth Olympics

Peiris was the only Sri Lankan swimmer to qualify to represent Sri Lanka at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics.[13]

References
  1. "Swimming | Athlete Profile: Akalanka PEIRIS - Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games". results.gc2018.com. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  2. "Sunday Times - CWG: Swimmer Akalanka Peiris standby for Men's 100m Backstroke semi-final". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  3. "Akalanka will sit the GCE ALs in Indonesia and also swim at the Asian Games". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  4. "Swimmer Akalanka gets green light to sit for GCE A/L exam in Jakarta". Daily News. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  5. Ranasinghe, Dinushki (2 October 2018). "Akalanka eyes Youth Olympic Gold". www.thepapare.com. Dialog Axiata. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  6. "Despite cold war between officials four swimmers to leave for FINA event". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  7. "Event 409 Boys, 100m Backstroke 15 - 17 years" (PDF). HKASA. 11 September 2017. p. 24. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  8. "Men's 50m Backstroke Semifinals Results" (PDF). Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  9. "Men's 4×100m Freestyle Relay Heats Results" (PDF). Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  10. "Peiris misses opening ceremony due to A-Level exams". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  11. "Akalanka takes A/L's amidst Asian Games". ThePapare.com. 2018-08-18. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  12. "Sri Lanka's swimming ace takes pool and school in giant splash". Sunday Observer. 2018-08-18. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  13. Ranasinghe, Dinushki (2 October 2018). "Akalanka eyes Youth Olympic Gold". www.thepapare.com. Dialog Axiata. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
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