Nowdays, more people are turning to bicycles for physical fitness rather than daily transportation. Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, emphasized the importance of promoting bicycle use among today’s youth, highlighting its benefits for both health and the environment.
The award ceremony of the Late Augustine Memorial Cycling Race – 2025, held in honor of the renowned cyclist, took place on Saturday morning (19.07.2025) at the Kilinochchi Cooperative Cultural Hall. The event was held under the chairmanship of Senior Foreign Service Officer Augustine Christiruben.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Northern Province Governor Hon. N. Vethanayahan reflected on his early career, saying, “My first appointment was as the Assistant Governor of Neduntheevu. At that time, I would cycle from my home in Alaveddi to Kurikattuvan. Sometimes, the winds were so strong that the bicycle wouldn’t move forward. It was by enduring such hardships that we built the strength to face life’s challenges.” He remarked that today’s younger generation rarely encounters such experiences and stressed the importance of resilience and perseverance.
These days, it’s common to see groups of parents—particularly mothers—gathering along main roads every evening. They drop their children off at private educational institutions and wait for them to finish. It has become increasingly rare for children to walk, even short distances. Cycling is a sport that is gaining popularity in today’s world. Competitions like this—organized by his son in memory of his father, Augustine—are important. They help prepare our children to face challenges and build resilience,” he said.
Kilinochchi District Secretary S. Muralitharan, Director of Jaffna Teaching Hospital Dr. T. Sathyamoorthy, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Kilinochchi District, North and South Zonal Education Directors of Kilinochchi, and many others participated in the event.
