The Dynamic Vigour of a Heroic Sportswoman: Akilathirunayagi
by Sritharuni Sridharan
Everystory Sri Lanka is delighted to presents a new short series under its flagship program, “Stories of Sri Lankan Women,” with the support of the Embassy of France to Sri Lanka. This series spotlights the inspiring journeys of three remarkable sportswomen from the island.
Akilathirunayagi remains an unstoppable, courageous runner, showcasing a vigor usually only found in youth. With a steadfast gaze, impeccable posture, and a lean physique that exudes strength, she defies the constraints of her age, even to date. At 73 years old, she embarks on her journey, showing no fear of aging, and by doing so, she delivers a powerful message to us and our generation that age is not a barrier to our aspirations while rejecting the notion that old age should confine us to our home.
Once unnoticed, she is now a prominent figure, spoken of by many, capturing attention and interviews for her remarkable efforts. She has ultimately evolved into a celebrated blessing to the sport, and her accomplishments extend beyond the realms of sports.
Akilathirunayagi was born on March 8, 1951, as the sixth daughter of Sellappa Sivakolundu, within the Mulliyawalai area of Mullaitivu district in Vanni. She completed her primary education at Kalaimagal Vidyalaya and her secondary education at Mulliyawalai Vidyananda College and participated in sports competitions, earning compliments and certificates along the way. She attributes her interest in and encouragement of sports to the support of her mother and teachers. Akilathirunayagi recalls being selected as the first female prison officer in Vavuniya in 1975. Despite her mother’s reluctance to support her, she appeased and convinced her by expressing her desire for the job and to provide for the family with her earnings. She shared that her father passed away when she was just 12 years old, and her mother raised her as a resilient sportswoman. In 1979, she married Siriseyanandabhavan and became a mother to two children, Yasandhi and Deepan. Despite the loss of her husband at the age of 32, she adeptly managed her responsibilities at home and work without giving up. Akilathirunayagi also remained devoted to supporting her mother until her passing at 86.
Akilathirunayagi’s career spanned 37 years, culminating in her promotion to the position of in-charge of prisons before retiring in 2012. She served in the Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, and Colombo districts, exemplifying the statement that “prisoners are also human beings” through her loving interactions with all inmates. Another of her achievements during that time was increasing her proficiency in the Sinhala language.
Her love for sports continued here, and she wove it into her career; at age 48, she participated in an inter-prison sports competition, where she was selected as the best athlete. Further, she was awarded the title of the best sports achiever at Welikada and Kandy Bogambara prison, and she received a trophy for her achievements in 2008. Akilathirunayagi reflected on her accomplishments during the 2009 Tamil and Sinhalese New Year Games, where she clinched first place in both the 5000M race and the bicycle race and continues using her bicycle for local journeys. Moreover, in 2010, she was honored with Sri Lanka’s Best Achiever award at the Weerasingham Hall in Jaffna under the patronage of the Northern Governor. Additionally, she was bestowed with the A-grade sportsperson certificate during the 2010 Colors Nights event in Colombo. Notably, in 2020, she received recognition from the American Tamil University at the Bandaranaike International Hall, where she was honored with a Lifetime Achiever award and a Doctorate.
In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, she participated in competitions held in the districts of Gampala and Matara, where she consistently stood out as the best athlete, earning the shield of victory. In 2022, she won 5 gold medals and two silver medals. In 2023 alone, she won 14 gold medals. Furthermore, she participated in competitions in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, and the Philippines, solidifying her remarkable achievements. Even amidst a prevailing sense of lethargy, when it comes to traveling to another district for competitions, she has never hesitated to journey to any place for competition despite her age. She attributes this to her motivation and overall health. For her, health isn’t solely about the physical body; she emphasizes that mental health is essential.
During the 22nd Senior Asian Athletics Championship held in the Philippines in October 2023, she observed the Gauri fast, a Hindu tradition. Despite experiencing severe fatigue, she participated and remarkably won two gold and one bronze medal.
She highlighted that the current honors, including being garlanded, adorned with golden clothing, awarded medals, commemorated with memorials, and presented with cheques, serve as exemplary societal models. Therefore, she accepts any invitation extended to her. On December 25, 2023, the Kepapulavu Army Regiment erected a stage on her land to honor her achievements. She expressed her gratitude, seeing a display of humanity transcending race, language, and religion in this gesture. She credits her teacher, Mrs. K. Iyampillai, as the most significant reason for her success.
Discussing her artifact, Akilathirunayagi recalls her bicycle and the pottu adorning her forehead, evoking memories of Vairavar and Anjaneyar (Tamil Gods) in Palai while chanting the ‘OM’ mantras. She said that the bicycle has been akin to a sibling to her since the time of the travel restrictions and that it has been an excellent help for commuting to work, taking her children to school, and going to the field. She recounted that during her childhood, women were prohibited from riding bicycles. Thus, she refrained from doing so. However, during her working years, on one occasion, while waiting for a bus to commute from Mulliyawalai to Mullaitivu for work, no buses arrived due to a ‘hartal’ by upcountry Tamils. Akilathirunayagi explained, “I had to go to work that day, which might have been perceived as the wrong thing to do, so I chose to avoid it.” As a result, she couldn’t go to work that day. She returned home without attending work and tearfully told her mother, “You brought me up to be backward.” Feeling hindered by these limitations, she recounts, “That day, at 31, I took hold of an old bicycle and began cycling”. As she grew accustomed to riding, she participated in cycle races held in Vavuniya and Mullaitivu, proudly mentioning that she rides at an impressive speed to this day.
Akilathirunayagi noted that anyone who strives for achievement, regardless of the field, will inevitably encounter opposition, and she is no exception to this reality. She recounted hearing criticisms from people questioning, “Is all this necessary at your age? What if you run and fall, injuring your hands or legs? Who will take care of you?”. She firmly asserts that none of the criticisms bothers her, as she is well aware that those who criticize wouldn’t come to offer help even if something were to happen. Remarkably, she has methodically maintained her personal life, work, and sports as one. With a smile, she fondly reminisces that the victories achieved through participation in sports competitions can overshadow any danger or resentment in her personal life.
The house Akilathirunayagi currently resides in was also built by her efforts. In 1987, during the presidency of Ranasinghe Premadasa, a competition was organized for the self-initiated construction of mud houses as part of his housing scheme. It was announced that prizes would be awarded. She fondly remembered participating in the competition, where she adorned her house by hand-painting the dining room and kitchen, adhering to the specified rules. She used locally produced materials such as thatch, coconut husk, fiber, and palmyra. Her efforts paid off when she won the first prize in the competition, as she also cultivated a home garden alongside her house. Regardless of the nature of the competition, she continues to participate eagerly to this day, expressing, “My goal is not solely victory, but to also endeavor.” Akilathirunayagi noted that her talent was only widely recognized by Sri Lankans when she reached 72, attributing her success to Vairavar, whom she worships. She shares that she constructed a temple for Vairavar on her land, where she also displays her mother’s portrait. She attributes both her skills and achievements to these cherished figures.
Akilathirunayagi recalls that 1975 her daily wage was Rs. 6, which was inadequate. Thus, she engaged in various self-employment, including sewing, bag weaving, basket weaving, farming, and producing sesame and coconut oil. Although her job as a prison officer is akin to that of the police and the army, evoking a sense of respect mingled with fear, she exudes positivity and kindness. Her admirable qualities, such as positive thinking, respect for law and order, dedication to self-reliance, engagement in charity, and willingness to guide others, could be observed. Reflecting on her profession, she acknowledges the significant accomplishments it has afforded her. She never shied away from venturing alone to any place at any time, asserting, “Women should always go forward with bravery and use their hands as a weapon to protect themselves.” In her personal view, she emphasizes that for women, “One cannot say that marriage is the only path to security and fulfillment. There are many other things for women beyond marriage”. She asserts that we have to shape our lives, emphasizing that there are myriad things to accomplish and prove to this society.
She joyfully emphasized that women should never hesitate to live alone. Her firm belief is that self-employment will always be a reliable safeguard for them. Due to her agricultural endeavors, she has never experienced food shortages. She pounds and boils the paddy for her consumption and offers alms to those seeking assistance. She said she keeps pets like cats and dogs for her amusement, naming them Venba, Thambi, and Wevi. “Animals have different emotions; not all of them feel it.” She emphasized that these animals are incredibly loyal and possess emotions, urging others to recognize and respect their feelings and that the affection given to them is genuine. Her simple request is to “Be kind to all living beings.”
Akilathirunayagi’s journey inspires younger generations and is a significant point for discussing feminism and women’s rights. She has been interested in sports since childhood. She was frustrated by the reality that despite girls participating in sports, there is a lack of opportunities for them in our society after completing their school education. The unequal significance given to women and girls compared to men and boys in sports deeply troubled her. Expressing her sadness, she emphasized her wish for women to engage in pursuits they can, allowing them to achieve and establish themselves as role models. She emphasized, “ Sports is not beyond our culture; we must first realize that it is part of us.” She pointed out that women are encountering numerous physical issues, primarily due to a lack of physical exercise, participation in sports, and engagement in physical labor. Emphasizing that “Age is not a barrier for sports,” she recounted participating in the 2014 Games in Singapore, where she set a personal goal to compete in international competitions and secure at least five gold medals. She persisted for over nine years until participating in the 2023 tournament in the Philippines.
She shares that she frequently utters positive affirmations like “Today should be a good day; live a prosperous life,” which helps cultivate a mindset of positivity. She emphasized that sports are pivotal in shaping future generations, enabling them to evolve into dynamic personalities. She believes engaging in sports can counteract the prevalent lack of vision, narrow-minded thinking, and selfish lifestyle observed in many individuals today. As a solution, she firmly believes that fostering an attitude change is possible through collaborative efforts among religious institutions, civil societies, government and non-governmental organizations, schools, and the public, all coming together to organize public sports competitions. Her dream for the future is to “Participate at least once in events such as the Asian Games and the Olympics. I also want to participate in the 2024 Games held in India, Thailand, and Sweden.”
Akilathirunayagi points out that Sri Lankan sportsmen and sportswomen need more training opportunities and face limitations regarding facilities. To address this situation, the government should prioritize sports and encourage and support athletes to participate in international sports competitions. She also expresses her desire to involve children in sports and have them participate in district, provincial, national, and international competitions. Additionally, she aims to organize future walking training competitions and traditional games. Furthermore, She believes consuming healthy, locally sourced foods is essential to “maintaining both physical and mental well-being.”
In her triumphant strides, she reflects, “Our planet exerts a gravitational force unique to each location. When we step upon the earth, we naturally absorb its energy. I choose to run barefoot because I’ve realized this connection. While I have money to buy shoes, I’ve grown accustomed to this practice.” Even today, as she steps onto the field, Akilathirunayagi firmly states that she embodies the spirit of a 16-year-old, a testimony to her unwavering and unfailing spirit.
(Siritharuni Siritharan is a women’s rights activist from the Batticaloa district. She advocates for preventing violence against women and serves as a resource person, researcher, and essayist on gender and women’s rights.)
Reference Links and Further Reading
1. With medals aplenty but sans shoes, this septuagenarian aims for the Olympics, The Sunday Times, 17th December 2023, https://www.sundaytimes.lk/231217/plus/with-medals-aplenty-but-sans-shoes-this-septuagenarian-aims-for-the-olympics-542066.html
2. Tamil girl won a gold medal through hard work, IBC Tamil, December 2023, https://ibctamil.com/article/akilathirunayaki-asia-senior-athletics-championshi-1700747550
3. An unyielding mind even in old age…Age is not a barrier to achieving…Akila Tharunaya an exemplar to the world, Thanthi TV, 30 November 2023, https://www.thanthitv.com/News/World/an-unwavering-mind-even-at-an-age-akilathirunayaki-is-an-example-to-the-world-230271
4. Akhilat Thirunaiki, who made Sri Lanka proud, running barefoot: “Personally Commended by the President, Oruvan, January 2024, https://oruvan.com/sri-lanka/2024/01/06/president-ranil-pays-tribute-to-akilathirunayaki-siriseyananthabavan-who-ran-barefoot-and-made-sri-lanka-proud
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