Sirimavo and Piliyandala Central emerge victorious
At the Vidudaya Ritzbury Interschool Swimming Championships concluded recently, at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the girls’ team from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo and the boys’ team from Central Swimming Club in Piliyandala emerged victorious. The much awaited championship was held at Sri Lanka’s largest swimming pool when Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) partnered for the first time, with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with the long-term aim of uplifting schools’ swimming.
The girls team from Piliyandala Central Swimming Club emerged runners- up in the championship while the male partici- pants that became the runners up was the team from Zahira College, Colombo. Competitors were able to vie for placements in the junior and senior age groups. The Under-9 Girls champion was Limondy Thushanya from CH Swimming Academy with M. M. Eknaligoda also from CH Swimming Academy achieving first place among Under-9 boys.
The Under- 11 Girls champion was Sanaya Nanayakkara from Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda and the Under- 11 Boys winner was Sasmitha Wattaranthanne from Aqua Style Swimming Club. In the Under-13 age group, Rithmi de Silva from Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo and Shehan Siriwardene from Pilyandala Central Swimming Club emerged winners. The Under- 15 Girls champion was N. H. Anakali de Silva from Dharmashoka Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda, and among the boys, the top achiever was N. Sarja Ahamed from Zahira College, Colombo.
The Under-17 Girls winner was Medani Panagoda from Rainbow Aquatics Club while S. D. S. Dylon Fernando from High Techniques Aquatics Club came first in the Under- 17 age group. Among the ladies, Divyanjali Prabha from Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya and among the men, S. N. Dissanayake from Dharmaraja College Kandy were the Under- 19 champions.
Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) the makers of Ritzbury chocolate were the sole sponsors of the Championship organised by theUniversity of Sri Jayewardenepura. The Championship attracted over 2000 swimmers from over 100 schools and sports clubs. The championship was held on January 27 and 28 at the Pool Complex of the University.