Sri Lankan shooters shine at the shooting competition in Kuwait
By Embassy of Sri Lanka, Kuwait
Feb 25, 2010
A 09-member Sri Lankan Police Shooting Team comprised of some of the best shooters from Sri Lanka participated at the First World Police Shooting Championship (FWPSC) which was held in the Olympic Shooting Range in Kuwait from 15th - 22nd February. The Sri Lankan team was among the 39 international teams that participated in the tournament from countries around the world. The tournament was organized by the Ministry of Interior under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince of Kuwait.

This is the first ever participation by a Sri Lankan shooting team at a shooting championship in Kuwait which marks the beginning of a long term collaboration between shooting bodies of the two countries. At FWPSC held in Kuwait, Women Sub Inspector Pabawathie was placed 10th in the "Women 25-metre Pistol Event".

The Sri Lankan team during their visit to Kuwait also met with Sri Lankan Ambassador to Kuwait, Sarath Dissanayake and staff and explored the opportunities for promoting cooperation between Sri Lanka and Kuwait in sports and shooting in particular. The shooters also took time off to visit the Embassy safe-house and met the inmates.

The visit enabled the Sri Lankan team members to familiarize with the advanced technology and latest equipment being used in shooting during which they were also able to build up contacts with the members of participating teams from countries in the west, the Europe, the Middle East, the Gulf and the Asia.

The team was comprised of

  1. G.S.Walgama - Superintendent of Police
  2. J Poddalgoda - Chief Inspector of Police
  3. Gration Walter - Chief Inspector of Police
  4. P.M.A. Pigera - Chief Inspector of Police
  5. N.R. Dehideniya - Women Inspector of Police
  6. U.K.B Ratmayaka - Inspector of Police
  7. G.N.Karunathillake - Sub Inspector of Police
  8. E.M. Pabawathi - Women Sub Inspector of Police
  9. M.R.S.Divulwewa - Sub Inspector of Police

Most of the Sri Lankan shooters for the FWPSC have represented the Sri Lankan National Shooting Team at international shooting tournaments including World Shooting Championships, Commonwealth Shooting Championships, South Asian Shooting Championships, Asian Shooting Championships etc. and brought fame to the country. Some of the shooters hold many Sri Lankan and Asian records.