It is reported to Lankasara that although more than three months have elapsed since the end of the free bicycle journey held from January 31 to February 3 on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, no gifts or trophies have been presented to the winners.
It was a huge cycle ride covering 571.5 kilometres from Pt. Pedro to Dondra Head, organized by the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Department of Sports Development under the guidance of the President’s Office, Ministry of Public Administration, and Home Affairs.
A huge group of competitors participated in this massive cycle ride that lasted for 4 days, and it has been announced for many days that the winner will be entitled to a cash prize of seven and a half lakh rupees, while the contestant who wins second place will be awarded five lakh rupees, and the third will receive two and a half lakh rupees.
But on the last day following the completion of the competition at the Deundara Head, there have been no cash prizes or trophies, and the cycling federation has promised the competitors that the prize money will be given in due course. It is also reported that the total prize money announced to be offered in the competition is over 25 lakh rupees.
Although it was announced that cash prizes will be awarded from the fourth to the tenth place and prizes will be awarded to the team winners, the contestants who win each day’s competition, and the most talented contestant under 23 years of age, the contestants who participated and achieved victories are complaining that they have not received any of those prizes to date.
Competitors from the Sri Lanka Army have managed to achieve first, second, and third places in the overall competition, while competitors from the Air Force, Navy, Port Authority, and many other government agencies have achieved success.
Although such a huge cycle journey was held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of independence, the cycling federation has told the competitors that there is no money in the treasury to distribute prizes to the competitors.
