Commonwealth silver medalist Indika Dissanayake recorded another milestone when he was placed 11th in the World Rankings (69 weight category) according to the International Weightlifting Federation.
It marks the first time Sri Lanka has a weightlifter in the top 15. Dissanayake was earlier placed 25th and his rise is attributed to his showing at the recent Commonwealth Game in Gold Cos, Australia where he won a silver medal in the 69 kg category by lifting a total of 297 kgs.
Speaking to the Sunday Observer the former Kingswood College student Indika Dissanayke said: “I had to train very hard for almost a year prior to the Commonwealth Games with the support of the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports.
“Even last year the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) tested us before the event and along with me 10 weightlifters qualified after we achieved the qualification standard at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship three months before the Commonwealth Games”.
Dissanayake had his primary education in Menikadewela Central College and did his Advance Level examination at Kingswood College.
“My first trainer was Athula Wijewickrama who helped me during the early stages. During the period 2013 to 2015 I become the best athlete at the National Sports Festival.
“My only interest was to qualify to Olympic Games standard. I hope I will achieve that in the forthcoming Asian Games in Indonesia in August”, said Dissanayake.