Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 20, 2024: The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka has felicitated three-time Olympian Niluka Karunaratne, who announced his retirement at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, last year.
Karunaratne, 39, who is also a two-time Asian Games competitor and six-time Commonwealth Games player, launched the OLY Niluka Karunaratne Foundation at his farewell press conference held on March 7 at the Sri Lanka Olympic House in Colombo.
“The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka takes this opportunity to congratulate you on your achievements and contributions to Sri Lanka sports and wish you all the very best in your future endeavours,” the NOC stated.
Karunaratne, who began playing badminton when he was 8 years, competed in three Olympic Games – 2012 London, 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo. His highest world ranking in badminton was 36.
Karunaratne, who holds the distinction of being the youngest national champion, at 16, is currently the Chair of the Athletes’ Commission of the Sri Lanka NOC.
In his farewell address to the local media, Karunaratne said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to represent my country and sport at the highest level. I am immensely grateful for the unwavering support I have received throughout my career.”
Sri Lanka NOC Secretary General Maxwell de Silva was present at the farewell ceremony.
The OLY Niluka Karunaratne Foundation was launched with the objective of supporting athletes locally and internationally, and aiming to enhance the quality of sport through athlete assistance programmes. The foundation’s first recipient is sprinter Yupun Abeykoon, who is striving to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics athletics competition.
