Four Trinitians get coveted 'Lion' for excellence in sports

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

LIONS: Four sportsmen from Trinity College, Kandy, who had excelled in their respective sports during the current year have been awarded the prestigious 'Lions' for Sports by the school at a Special Assembly held at the College Hall on Friday.

Three ruggerites, namely skipper Imalka Madummapatabandi, vice-captain Sheanne Deanne and Sean Wanigasekera and a hockey player Subramaniam Krishanthan were the recipients of the 'Lions' which is the highest award for sports while in school. The 'Lions' is awarded not only for excellence in sports but also their overall conduct on and off the field is also taken into account.

Imalka Madummapatabendi who played as No. 8 led the school through an unbeaten season though losing to Kingswood College 10-16 in a pre-season match against Kingswood College to celebrate the 100 years of rugby at Trinity.

Thereafter the side gained momentum to demolish their opponents. They retained the coveted Bradby Shield for second year in succession and also beat Isipathana and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.

Above all their 'grudge' victory was over their traditional rivals St. Anthony's College, Katugastota after a lapse of seven long years by a very convincing margin. They ended the season as Sri Lanka Schools Singer Shield 'B' division rugby champions and gained promotion to the 'A' division next season.

Vice Captain Sheanne Deanne played as a flanker was an excellent player in the loose and was a team man and spoiled the moves of their opponents for others to deliver the goods.

Sean Wanigasekera without doubt the star of the Trinity College rugby team and in the second row towered above others with his strapper like appearance. A glutton for hard work and was also a fierce tackler and a hard and incisive runner who was a major threat to their opponents with his fiery play. He was in the thick of everything.

A third generation rugby player from Trinity to adorn the rugby jersey with distinction. His grand father the famous Maurice Perera played for Trinity College as a prop forward was himself a hard tackler and later turned out for Kandy Sports Club and All Ceylon in the fifties when the game was dominated by the expatriate European planters and those from the Agency Houses.

Often he was the sole local in the all European sides which played the foreign rugby teams and also participated in the then All India Rugby tournament.

Sean's father Sean Wanigasekera Snr. played for Trinity as a Lock forward and also turned out for Kandy SC and CH & FC. He was a member of the all conquering 1987 Trinity side which won all their matches and also won the Rugby double of League and Presidents Trophy knock out champions under Tyrell Rajapaksa.

The fourth player to receive the 'Lion' was hockey player Subramaniam Krishanthan who excelled as a centre forward for the school and also represented Junior National hockey team in various tours.

A happy Principal of Trinity College Boderick Gilbert who had just returned after a holiday in 'Old Blighty' handed over the 'Lions' to the schoolboys for bringing honour to the school by their achievements.