The Duncan White Sports Foundation takes great pride in welcoming back to her home a national heroine, Susanthika Jayasinghe, after her hard-earned victory in the Sydney Olympics. All the trials and tribulations that Susanthika would have endured along the road to victory, perhaps would have strengthened further her natural ability, resolve and determination to excel. It is the champion that does not let anything deter his or her drive to win. Susanthika can rightly be proud of her achievement not only as the first Sri Lankan woman athlete to have earned an Olympic medal but also as the first South Asian woman to have ever won an Olympic medal in Track and Field.

The sense of exhilaration, liberation, victory and vindication that Susanthika must have felt as she crossed the finish line can only be imagined, but Susanthika, we all shared in your triumph. It has lifted us all up and given us a sense of hope. It has inspired your peers, athletes and non-athletes alike and has temporarily lifted us from our mundane existences. It is your responsibility to set an example for your nation, to not lose focus on what it is that you do best: sprint. You must continue to set and achieve higher and higher goals for yourself.

You have now become a symbol for your nation as a person who has persevered against many odds, the hardships of life and almost singularly on her own reached her goal against others blessed with more advantages in life. You must first and foremost not lose sight of what your destiny has made you, a great athlete. Let us celebrate your victory in and of what it is: a historic victory for Sri Lankans, one and all.

Your astounding victory must now be built upon constructively and your next goal should be to improve your time and to gain as much competitive experience to improve your performance when you compete again in the Athens 2004 Olympics to bring another medal to your country. There is still much hard work and sacrifice on the road to further success, but you have proved that you have the mettle and nerve that it takes to compete in the international arena.

The Duncan White Sports Foundation is behind you and will continue to support you in any way we can to help you in your quest for further excellence in your athletic endeavours. I feel sad that Duncan is no longer with us to have seen that he has passed the torch onto you. Thank you for lighting the way for your Sri Lankan peers to show them what can be achieved with determination, discipline and talent against all odds.

Without further adieu, on behalf of the Foundation and your countrymen and women, I again offer my sincerest congratulations and bid you welcome home.