3rd Royal-Thomian Sailing Championship :

Thomians dominant in sailing

By Sajeewa Jayakody

S Thomas’ College dominated the third annual Royal-Thomian Sailing Championships held at the Bolgoda Lake waters in Indibedda, Moratuwa yesterday winning two of the three events worked off.

The Thomians showed their dominance in sailing by winning the overall championship for the third time in a row in as many years. They won the Sailing Optimist Class ‘A’ and the Laser Event while Royal College clinched the Sailing Optimist Class ‘B’.

Former Sri Lanka Navy Commander and Australia High Commissioner Thisara Samarasinghe graced the occasion as the chief guest along with Royal College Principal BA Abeyratne and S Thomas’ College Sub Warden AS Perera.

Samarasinghe said through this sport, sailors could learn how to face any challenges on their way towards achieving their goals using both mind and body.

“I was moulded with this sport, sailing with the Sri Lanka Navy. Since Sri Lanka is an island-nation, the country should develop this lovely sport, which can define a man,” Samarasinghe said at the presentation ceremony.

Addressing the gathering, Royal Sailing captain Sansith Heenatigala urged the authorities to develop the sport.

“I would like to request the authorities of this sport to develop as this sport would benefit immensely to the sailors life,” said Heenatigala.

The Royal-Thomian Sailing organizing committee has decided to name the Championship after the distinguished sportsman of S Thomas’ College ML the late Ranil Dias and present a trophy in his memory named the ‘Ranil Dias memorial trophy’. Though the trophy was displayed during the championships yesterday it was not presented to the winner.

The trophy will be presented to the winning school from next year and the organizers said they hoped that the Royal-Thomian spirit and friendly rivalry will prevail as a tribute to the outstanding sportsman and true gentleman, the late Ranil Dias.

Dias won his school colours in swimming, waterpolo and rowing. He represented Sri Lanka whilst still in school in rowing and waterpolo earning national colours in both sports. It was yachting that he really excelled being chosen to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Yachting Regatta

held in Bombay in 1981, the Asian Games in 1982 and 1986 and the prestigious Olympics Games in Los Angeles in 1984. At the time there were only a handful of competitors who represented the country at such a high level.

S Thomas’ College Sailing team: Akil Ismail (captain), Jordan Bolling (vice captain), Shashenka Fernando, Deshavka Fernando, Zai Pestonjee, Jehan de Silva, Sarith Perera, Dimithri Vitharana.

Royal College Sailing team: Sansith Heenatigala (captain), Mayukha Siriwardena (vice captain), Binara Batuwantudawa, Yuneth Wijenayake, Suneragiri Liyanage, Jithvan Senaratne, Nisal Walpola, Kaif Sally, Akindu Samaraweera, Kanila Gunasekera, Sahanya Wevita, Viraj Randeniya, Adithya Weerakoon, Manthisa Gunasekera, Anuka Samaraweera.