Shehan Ambepitiya on the way to his third gold at Pune, Oct. 16, 2008.

Shehan Ambepitiya ended the Commonwealth Youth Games as a hero and left a lasting legacy, becoming the only Sri Lankan to have won three golds in the games. Following his gold medals in the 100 meters and the 4x100 relay, he completed the grand triple when he won the men’s 200 meters with a new record in Pune, India on thursday.

Team sources in Pune confirmed that Ambepitiya completed a hat-trick of Golds in style with a new record in each of the events.

"Shehan won the gold in the 200 meters and the Sri Lankan camp is absolutely delighted. He set a games record clocking 21.27 seconds," Rajiva Wijetunga, the Chef de Mission of the Sri Lankan contingent told ‘The Island’ from Pune on Thursday.

While his heroics has brought joy to millions of Sri Lankans, Ambepitiya’s family members who eagerly anticipated the result, temporarily postponed a humble birthday party for his mother, who turned 52 on Wednesday. "We can’t enjoy when our son is away. My daughter wanted to make a birthday cake, but I said it would be ideal to celebrate when he returns home," said Sriyani Pushpalatha, the joyous mother of Ambepitiya, who is gradually recovering after kidney surgery.

"He has been in constant touch with us. Each time he phoned me, he asked for my blessings which I gave happily and in abundance," said Pushpalatha when ‘The Island’ met her on Thursday.

Earlier, Ambepitiya clocked 21.67 seconds to win the 200 meters semi-final and finished off the final clocking 21:29 seconds, his personal best. The Gateway College athlete also ran the 100 meter dash clocking a personal best of 10:51 seconds.

The 18-year-old was at President’s College, Rajagiriya before receiving a scholarship from Gateway International, the school run by respected educationist R. I. T. Alles.

Ambepitiya was placed seventh in the World Youth Athletic Championships a few months ago.

Meanwhile, the overjoyed residents of Battaramulla, where he lives, are preparing to give Ambepitiya a rousing welcome home.

The shy teenager has avoided such felicitations, but his parents said that it would be difficult for him to escape this time. "He has used very smart tactics to avoid such felicitations. Previously, he had given false times about his arrival. But I don’t think this time he can escape. He has only one route to come home," said his mother.