Kelaniya S&LSA - overall champs at Gampaha District Meet

Kelaniya Swimming and Life Saving Association, with 210 points edged out Gampaha District Swimming & Life Saving Association (201 Points), to emerge Overall champions at the Gampaha District Swimming Meet, 2006 held at the Regent International College, Miriswatta, Gampaha Swimming Pool.

In third place was Viharamaha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda, with 196 points and Regent International College-Gampaha, fourth with 187 points.

Seventeen schools and ten clubs participated in this year’s event. In the boys’ championship, Regent International College virtually swept the board to win the Boys championship Trophy, with 124 points. Finishing second was Basilica College, Ragama, with 41 points. Gothami Junior School - Gampaha obtained 33 points.

Viharamaha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda, the overall championship runners-up, won the girls’ championship, with a total of 196 points. Not too far behind them was Holy Cross College, Gampaha, who obtained 156 points. They were followed by Yashodara Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha and Regent International College, Gampaha, with 75 and 63 points respectively.
Charitha Deshini of Holy Cross College, Gampaha was awarded a return air ticket to Singapore from SriLankan Airlines for being the best swimmer among schools at the meet.

The meet was organised by Regent International College, Gampaha. Sponsored by SriLankan Airlines, Seylan Bank, Ceylon Cold Stores, Lanka Orix Leasing Co. Ltd., Makeen Bookshop, Nations Trust Bank, People’s Bank, Metropolitan Agencies, Ranathunga Motors.

The chief guest at the meet was USA-born Sri Lanka cricketer Jehan Mubarak, who had his education at Royal College, Colombo. Mubarak, in addition to his cricketing abilities, has represented Sri Lanka at swimming and waterpolo and is the 50m Butterfly Stroke champion. He was bestowed with the Royal Crown for his outstanding sporting talents and has a degree in Chemistry.

Jehan Mubarak, during the course of his address said: “I have found that there is a great interest in sports at junior level. Once students reach their O/L stage, they drop out of all sports activities in the hope of achieving excellent results at O/L and A/L exams. I have managed to successfully combine sports and studies, both at school and at university and I believe that my education was so much more enjoyable because of it. If education is the backbone of a complete person, then sports is what defines him and gives him substance”.

Overall Champions (Girls): 1. Viharamaha Devi Balika, Kiribathgoda 196 points, 2. Holy Cross College, Gampaha 156 points, 3. Yasodara Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha 75 points, 4. Regent International College, Gampaha 63 points, 5. Newstead Girls College, Negombo 36 points.

Overall Champions (Boys): 1. Regent International College 124 points, 2. Bascilica College Ragama 41 points, 3. Gothami Junior School, Gampaha 33 points, 4. St. Nicholas’ International College, Negombo 13 points, 5. Bandaranayake College, Thakshila Vidyalaya 5 points.

Overall Points: 1. Kelaniya Swimming and Life Saving Association 210 points, 2. Gampaha District Swimming and Life Saving Association 201 points, 3. Andiambalama Safety Swimming School, Andiambalama and Viharamaha Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda 196 points (both), 5. Regent International College, Gampaha 187 points.

Champion swimmers

Girls under 10: N. Romaine Perera (Holy Cross College), Girls under 12: Tashia Dias (Andiambalama Safety Swimming School), Girls under 14: Cindy Nanayakkara (OKI Swimming School), Girls under 16: Heshani Jayaratne (Viharamaha Devi Balika Vidyalaya), Girls under 19: Charitha Deshini (Holy Cross College), over 19: Dumini de Silva (Newstead Girls College).

Boys under 10: D. S. Jayakody (Kelani Swimming and Life Saving Association), Boys under 12: U. C. Athukorale (Kelani Swimming and Life Saving Association), Boys under 14: R. Wanderwall (Kelani Swimming and Life Saving Association), Boys under 16: S. I. Dissanayake (Gampaha District Swimming and Life Saving Association). Boys under 19: J. M. Abrahan (Neptune Aquatic Sports Club), Boys over 19: B. P. T. M. Pathirana (Katunayake Swimming Club).