Renowned Sri Lankan athlete and coach, Susanthika Jayasinghe, a silver medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has reportedly moved to Melbourne, Australia, with her two children. Sources indicate that her return to Sri Lanka is uncertain, as she has expressed doubts about coming back in conversations with friends.
Jayasinghe left Sri Lanka around two months ago, stating that her primary reason for relocating was to prioritize her children’s education and future.
Her move follows a similar path taken by fellow athlete and Olympian Damayanthi Darsha, who migrated to Australia with her family several years ago.
A Historic Career in Athletics
Susanthika Jayasinghe, now 49, is a retired Sri Lankan sprinter specializing in the 100m and 200m events. She achieved fame by winning a silver medal in the 200m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, becoming the second Sri Lankan to win an Olympic medal after Duncan White and the first Asian woman to win an Olympic or World Championship medal in track events.
Jayasinghe’s silver medal at the Sydney Olympics remained the only Olympic medal won by a South Asian nation in athletics for 21 years until Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal in javelin at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Nicknamed the “Black Pearl of Asia,” Jayasinghe is celebrated for her contributions to athletics.
Representing Sri Lanka on the World Stage
Jayasinghe represented Sri Lanka at the Olympics in 1996, 2000, and 2008. Widely recognized as one of Sri Lanka’s most decorated track athletes, she has also been a polarizing figure, having campaigned for Mahinda Rajapaksa during his election campaign.
