Gajaba Super Cross 11th edition on August 26

The eleventh edition of the ‘Gajaba Super Cross’ is to be held on Sunday August 26 at the Saliyapura circuit with practices scheduled for Saturday. The event is organized by Sri Lanka Army Gajaba Regiment and conducted by the Sri Lanka Association for Racing Drivers and Riders for the CEAT-SLARDAR Championship Trophy. This edition will have 21 events (10 Car and 11 Motor Cycle events) lined up for competition with a few riders from India under the banner TVS team participating in Motor Cycle events.

These details were expressed at the media briefing held in Colombo to announce the event launch. Speaking at the briefing Colonel Commandant of the Regiment Sumedha Perera said that the event which commenced in 1999 with former Brigadier Gamini Goonesekera’s initiative has been a success throughout the past decade. It also has helped Sri Lanka Army to conduct many welfare works to benefit the soldiers’ families who sacrificed their lives in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and for permanently disabled soldiers as well as the present servicemen’s welfare. He also said that the event could not be held in the years 2007 and 2008 due to the unstable security situation that prevailed in the country.

“The Gajaba Super Cross from its commencement has given its best to the drivers and riders, while doing so the people of North Central Province too have witnessed racing at its best. This also has prompted some of the youngsters to take to the sport,” said Col. Sumedha Perera. He further added that all proceeds gained in the past have been used to build houses for the late soldiers’ families at a cost of Rs. 1.5m each. These houses will be handed over to the families on August 23 at a ceremony presided over by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

President of the SLARDAR Mahesh Gammanpila said that his club was grateful to the Sri Lanka Army for helping the club to conduct this event in a disciplined manner. He thanked the media for the support extended in the past and requested them to continue with it in the future too.

 

When questioned on the issue of the riders’ boycott of the Gunners Super Cross he said that the Army and the club held discussions over the matter and decided to give away cash awards to the winner and two runners-up in addition to trophies. The cash awards are Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,500 and Rs. 5,000 respectively. Brigadier Perera and the president also stated that further discussions will be held in the future to come to a compromise with the sole intention of promoting motor racing in Sri Lanka which has reached great height in the recent past. The date for the closing of entries which was set for August 13 too was extended till August 16 to enable all riders and drivers to send in their entries.