Gampaha and Kandy districts have jointly claimed the overall championship at Sri Lanka's 36th National Youth Sports Festival, marking the first time the two districts have shared the top honor. Both districts finished level on 130 points in the competition held on November 6, 2026, in Sri Lanka.
Galle District secured third place with 106 points. As champions, Gampaha and Kandy each received Rs. 200,000, while Galle received Rs. 100,000 in prize money.
The festival also recognized two outstanding individual athletes. A.W.G.J.S. Wijethunga of Gampaha was named Best Female Athlete, while M.D. Chathuranga of Kegalle was awarded Best Male Athlete. Each recipient received Rs. 1 million for their achievements.
Chathuranga's performance proved particularly noteworthy, as he set a competition record in the men's 400-metre hurdles with a time of 50.06 seconds. This achievement highlighted the caliber of athletic competition at the national youth festival.
The joint championship represents a historic moment for both districts, demonstrating competitive parity at Sri Lanka's premier youth sports event. The festival continues to serve as a platform for identifying and developing young athletic talent across the nation's districts.