Government to replace Rumesh Tharanga’s damaged javelins

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will replace the five competition javelins damaged during air transport while Sri Lankan world champion Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage was returning home from Budapest, with the government covering the full cost.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage said a new set of high-grade competition javelins will be purchased for Tharanga to ensure the incident does not affect his training or preparations for upcoming international competitions.

The Minister said the government will continue to support the world number-one javelin thrower as he prepares for the upcoming Asian Games and the 2028 Olympic Games.

“The government will continuously stand by our athletics star to ensure his Olympic dream remains on track,” Minister Gamage said.

Tharanga arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (September 15) after winning the men’s javelin title at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship held in Budapest, Hungary.

Five of his javelins were reportedly broken and damaged during the return journey. His father said the damaged equipment was worth more than Rs. 2 million, while reports said complaints were being lodged with the relevant airline authorities.

In a Facebook post showing the damaged javelins, Tharanga listed several distances he had recorded with them, including 85.98m, 92.62m, 88.50m, 89.20m, 89.37m, 88.20m, 89.68m, 92.06m and 91.06m.

He wrote “good bye and thank you” alongside the figures and specifically mentioned Turkish Airlines while expressing his disappointment over the damage.

Tharanga won the World Athletics Ultimate Championship on September 13, 2026, with a throw of 91.09 metres. Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished second with 86.18 metres, while Germany’s Julian Weber placed third with 85.89 metres.

The Sri Lankan athlete had entered the competition as one of the leading contenders after recording a world-leading throw of 92.62 metres earlier this year.