Benedictine Colour’s Night
St. Benedict’s College sportsmen who did themselves and their school proud by their achievements in different disciplines in the years of 2019 and 2020, displaying highest standards of dedication and commitment, endless hours of training and mental preparation, always sticking to clean and ethical conduct in true spirit of sportsmanship, were rewarded and felicitated on November 5 at the college auditorium in the presence of a packed audience of teachers, parents, old boys, religious dignitaries, special invitees and their fellow students.
The great national sports personality and the much respected corporate citizen, Rohan de Silva, a distinguished alumnus of St. Benedict’s College, graced the occasion as the chief guest and the present Sri Lanka national basketball captain, young Clinton Stallone Thevakumar, was the guest of honour. Among the special invitees were Dr. Dhammika Senanayake, Sports Medicine Specialist, Upali Ameratunge, Assistant Director of Physical Education and Sports, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Dammika Kulatunge, Assistant Director of Physical Education and
Sports, Western Province Education Department and Mrs. Kusalani Wickremaratne, Assistant Director of Physical Education and Sports, Colombo Zonal Education Department. They and all present were warmly welcomed by Rev. Bro. Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha, Director of St. Benedict’s College.
The splendidly programmed event had presentation of awards interspersed with some extraordinary items of entertainment performed by the students themselves, perfected through hours of practice and rehearsals with the added glamour of girls from St. Bridget’s Convent and Good Shepherd Convent joining the Benedictines on stage. Merit and Colours awards, special
awards, star awards and the ‘Benedictine Spirit’ awards were given to the most deserving and the most outstanding performers in cadetting, basketball, hockey, rifle shooting, swimming, tennis, football, karate, gymnastics, cricket, Chess, scouting, rugby, athletics and the sports media unit. Coaches of gymnastics and athletics were presented with appreciation awards for training their respective squads to be among the best in the country.
The quality and the professionalism seen in all entertainment items clearly showed that the great Benedictine tradition in the fields of arts, drama, music, dance and sports are been carried forward to the present day. The ‘Bhartha Natyam’ by the girls of St. Bridget’s Convent was of the highest Indian tradition. The item that sent the audience to raptures was the dancing to the singing of a medley of popular English and Sinhala pop songs by the boys of St. Benedict’s with the girls of Good Shepherd Convent, which ended on a high note showering blessings on all present. The entire event was conducted with Benedictine finesse and precision timing. Coming down to the quadrangle everyone was treated to a beautiful fireworks display.
The success of the event was the result of excellent team work led by Rev. Br. Dilshan Vimukthi, FSC ably assisted by teachers Nuwan Abeywickrema, Jude Vaas, Young Old Benedictines Dilshan Bandara, Deeshan Fernando and many young teachers from the primary and collegiate sections, members of the sports media unit, prefects and the support staff of the college.