DHARMASOKAMVCELEBRATES CENTENARYWITH SPORTS FESTIVAL
An existence of hundred years by any school is something to rejoice. One of the prominent schools down south Dharmasoka MV Ambalangoda which is regarded as one of the best mixed schooles in the island will be celebrating their centenary year.
In conjunction of this special event the school authorities along with the many committees such as the OBA, the Schools Development Society and Committee, the Sports Council have joined hands to make the celebrations a memorable event.
Besides the many activities that will be taking place for the next two weeks beginning from today (February 8) the school have made plans to celebrate the centenary with a massive sports festival which will feature ten disciples.
Six of the ten sports that they have planned will be invitation tournament which will be cricket, netball, football, basketball, athletics and cadetting while four will be table tennis, badminton, swimming and chess will be ranking tournaments.
The incumbent principal of Dharmasoka MV giving a brief picture of the school history stated that the school which began way back in 1913 with around 15 students has come a long way.
It began within the corridors of a house that belonged to one of the ardent supporters of the school after which the school was taken over by the state and from there it It has gone from strength to strength and excelled in academic and extra curricular activi- ties. He proudly mentioned that the school has produced students who have gone on to serve their motherland with distinction.
Dharmasoka MV has excelled in sports activities in the recent times and has the honour of feeding the national teams in almost most of the sports in the island.
In recent times they have produced topmost cricketers in the likes of Ajith de Silva, Marvan Atapattu and Dinesh Chandimal with last two named having cut their teeth and had their beginning in cricket at Dharmasoka.
There is no doubt that though Dharmasoka MV is a mixed school comprising of children around the vicinity of Ambalangoda we are proud to say that the school has been regarded as the best mixed school in the island.
So today Dharmasoka MV is a seat of learning which is a much sought after school by most of the parents in Ambalangoda and the suburbs who thrive to see their children gaining admission to Dharmasoka MV for an outstanding school career.
Speaking further the principal said that the several committees along with parents who are involved in organizing the celebrations have left no stone unturned to make this a resounding success which will be remembered for years.
The sports celebrations which get underway from today will be on till February 24. It will begin with the ta- ble tennis ranking tournament to be held for the age groups under 10, 12, 15 and 18.
An official of the organizing committee stated that there has been tremendous interest shown and the feedback for the participation in the ten disciples speaks volume of it.The final schedule has been confirmed in all the ten disciples that will be conducted from February 8 to 24. The schedule: February 8 to 11 – Table Tennis Ranking Tournament. February 9 t0 11 – (Over 300 participants from over 25 schools). February 9 to 11 - Under 19 Invitation Cricket Sixes (24 Schools) and Under 17 Invitation Netball Tournament (36 Schools).February 10 – Swimming (600 Participants). February 14 – Athletics Relay Carnival Under 12 to 20). February 15 and 16 – Under 17 (Boys) and Under 15 (Girls) Invitation Basketball Tournament (24 Schools). February 15 to 17 – Under 18 Football Invitation Tournament (16 Schools).
February 21 to 26 – Chess International Ranking Tournament (Over 750 Participants). February 22 to 24 – Badminton Ranking Tournament (Under 13 to 19 - Over 300 Participants). February 23 and 24 – Cadeting (24 Schools)