Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, a SLT-MOBITEL brand ambassador, has been welcomed home after winning the Diamond League Championship Finale in Brussels and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026 in Budapest, becoming the first Sri Lankan to claim the Diamond League title.
Javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage returned to Sri Lanka following back-to-back athletic victories on the international stage. He won the Diamond League Championship Finale in Brussels with a throw of 89.04 metres, making him the first Sri Lankan athlete to secure the prestigious title. Shortly after, he claimed victory at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship 2026 in Budapest with a throw of 90.12 metres.
Tharanga was received at Bandaranaike International Airport with a special welcome ceremony organised by SLT-MOBITEL, the telecommunications company for which he serves as brand ambassador. The reception was attended by Naleen Jayasuriya, Chief People Officer, and Anuruddha Rathnayake, Chief Network Officer of SLT-MOBITEL, who highlighted the achievements as a matter of national pride.
According to SLT-MOBITEL's statement, Tharanga's sporting journey spans multiple competition victories in Rome, Doha, Lausanne, Zurich, Brussels, and Budapest. The company noted his transition from cricket—he was previously a fast bowler—to becoming a world-class javelin athlete. SLT-MOBITEL framed its support for Tharanga as part of a broader commitment to developing Sri Lankan sporting talent and driving national progress.