Gateway celebrates achievements of over 20 students who have excelled at national and international level at the school’s colours nite
The Annual Colors Nite of Gateway Schools was held on the 8th of July 2017 at the BMICH in Colombo, under the distinguished patronage of Mr. Roshan Mahanama, former Sri Lankan cricketer and International Match Referee as Chief Guest.
Sportsmen and Sportswomen from the Gateway schools in Colombo, Kandy, Negombo and Dehiwela were recognized and rewarded for their outstanding achievements. Nearly 300 students who had represented the schools in no less than 15 different sports received awards of Merit, Colors and Special Awards. The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the prestigious ‘Gateway Dove’ to Sharmila Jan who represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Junior Athletics Championship 2016 and Melani Fernando who swam for Sri Lanka at the South Asian Age Group Aquatic Championship 2016.
Among the stars who had represented Sri Lanka were AsiriWijesekara, Randi Cooray and Natalie Malpana (Athletics), RasinduHendahewa (Badminton), SethmiSumanaweera (Tennis), Gajitha Nanayakkara and Kulisa Nanayakkara (Chess) and Stephan Perera, Alvin Arulmaran, Amrith Perera, Araliya Gunasekara and Monali Weerakkodi (swimming). There were also the ones who had won championships at national level. They included Sadeepa Henderson,Adhija Alahakoonand HansaniLiyanaarachchi (Athletics), Yasinda Samaranayake (Chess), RuviLewkebandara (Tennis) and InduwaraSapuarachchige (Chess).
The guests of honour for the evening were Mr. Sumedha Ranasinghe (Olympian/Javelin Throw National Champion), Ms. Upuli Weerasinghe (National Badminton Player), Mr. Duke Rajapaksa (Former Sri Lanka Basketball Captain), Ms. Saumya Zainab (World Chess Champion), Mr. Sunil Senaweera (Former Vice President of the Football Federation Sri Lanka), Mr. Kaveen Samaranayake (Former National Karate Player), Ms. VirajiChamarika (Former National Netball & Volleyball Player) and Mr. Ruwan Manawadu (Former National Swimming Coach).
The program for the evening was executed to precision by the organizing school, Gateway College, Colombo, which included scintillating performances that included dances, songs and a karate display. The school did not forget to recognize the hard work of the coaches and trainers by felicitating them for their efforts as well.
It was a colourful evening befitting a Colors Nite of a group of schools which has contributed much towards the advancement of sports in Sri Lanka.