Sri Lanka's Commonwealth 100m bronze medallist Yupun Abeykoon has received an £81,000 grant to help his preparation for the Paris 2024 Games ©Getty Images

Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon, who became the first athlete from his country to take a Commonwealth Games 100 metres medal at Birmingham 2022, has received a grant of Rs.36 million (£81,000/$98,000/€94,000) to assist in his training for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Following a recommendation by the Sri Lankan Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, Abeykoon - who clocked 10.14sec to take bronze in a final won in 10.02 by Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala - received the sum from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The presentation was made by SLC secretary Mohan de Silva at a function held at the Sports Ministry Board room.

Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon, right, is the first athlete from his country to win a 100m Commonwealth Games medal ©Getty Images
Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon, right, is the first athlete from his country to win a 100m Commonwealth Games medal ©Getty Images

Sri Lanka Cricket has this year alone provided Rs.474 million (£1.06million/$1.3million/€1.2million) in funds to bail out the Government that included Rs.180 million (£405,000/$490,000/€471,000) to the cancer hospital, Rs.220 million (£500,000/$604,000/€576,000) to what is called the National Sports Fund, Rs.22.5 million (£60,000/$72,000/€58,000) for the contingent to the Commonwealth Games and a further Rs.36 million (£81million/$97million/€94,000) to the Asian Cup-winning netball team and its coaches.

According to the Sports Ministry, the money given to Abeykoon will enable him to further develop and train with a view to winning a medal at the Olympic Games.

To this effect a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Sports Ministry, SLC and Abeykoon.