Third annual ‘SLT Speed Up Cycle Sawariya’ to flag off in September

The third edition of ‘SLT Speed Up Cycle Sawariya’, the longest across the country cycle race will be held in September, taking cycling in the country to the next level.

The men’s race is scheduled to begin on 4^th of September and wrap up on 8^th of September.  The women’s race will be held on September 07^th & 8^th marking it as the first time in the cycling history in Sri Lanka that a two-day event had been organized for the women cyclists. Changing the cycling landscape of the country, the first ever para cycling event will be held on September 8^th.

Both the 820km long men’s and 175km long women’s races will start from Colombo to reach the finish lines in Kuliyapitiya. The 75km Para event will be from Kurunegala to Kuliyapitiya.

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), the country’s premier telecommunication provider hosts this event with the collaboration of Cycle Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL).

Sri Lanka Telecom will introduce new features and latest technologies to this year’s event such as automatic tracking system to locate riders at the front, electronic time system to calculate results, etc. with the aim of developing and raising the standards of cycling in Sri Lanka.

Cycling is one of the most popular sporting and recreational activities in the country. Having understood this significance, SLT as a socially responsible corporate entity launched its SLT Speed Up Cycle Sawariya in 2016 to expose and recognize the country’s talents in the field. The two previous events were proved to be tremendous success.

As a step to boost the zest among the youth, the organizers have encouraged the teams to include at least 02 riders who are under the age of 23 years.

In addition to providing a spectacular sporting event for cycle enthusiasts in the country, SLT aims at cultivating health, environmental and economic values through this event.

The famed SLT Speed Up Cycle Sawariya is the most awaited and prestigious event in the cycling calendar in the country and the winners will be rewarded with highest cash prizes. The winner of the men’s race will receive Rs. one million while winners of women’s race and para race will receive Rs. 250,000 and Rs. 150,000 respectively.