Schoolboy Hockey Fiesta in the Hills
MATALE THOMIANS' ALL-ISLAND SCHOOLS HOCKEY 7S 2018
The 4th Matale Thomians' All-Island Schools Hockey 7s 2018 will be conducted by the Matale Old Thomians' Hockey Association (MOTHA) on June 3 at Edward Park, Matale. The main Sponsors of this tournament are Singer Sri Lanka Plc and People's Bank, while the Co- Sponsor is Diana Biscuits Co. The Educational Partner is NSBM Green University and the Media Partners are Siyatha TV and Siytha FM.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, MOTHA Secretary Eric Hulangamuwa said the tournament is intended to achieve a new level of participation by leading Hockey playing schools in the island, and also to make Hockey an attractive and appealing sport, for the revival of Hockey in Matale, to its heydays.
This year, 28 Under-20 teams representing leading Hockey playing schools islandwide will be seen in action. They are St Thomas', Vijaya, Zahira, Christ Church and Sirimavo Bandaranaike from Matale, Royal, S. Thomas' Mt. Lavinia, Ananda, Nalanda, Wesley, DS Senanayake, St. Benedict's, St. Peters and Prince of Wales from Colombo, Trinity, Dharmaraja, Kingswood and St. Sylvesters from Kandy, Dharmadutha from Badulla, Jaffna Central and St. John's from Jaffna, Maris Stella from Negambo, Joseph Vaz from Wennappuwa, Gampaha Bandaranayake, St. Thomas' from Matara, and St. Aloysius and Mahinda from Galle.
The winners will receive the AJ Wijesinghe Memorial Challenge Trophy. The late Mr Wijesinghe was a distinguished Principal of St. Thomas' College Matale and former President of Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association. 1st Runner-up will receive the late APB Harasgama Challenge Trophy. The late Mr Harasgama was an old boy of St. Thomas' College Matale and former President of Sri Lanka Hockey Federation. Late Sqdn Ldr CK Hulangamuwa Trophy will be awarded to the 2nd Runner-up. A Hockey player of repute, Late Sqdn Ldr Hulangamuwa was a National Hockey 'cap' and captained Sri Lanka Air Force and Defence Services at Hockey. Player of the Tournament will receive former 'Asian Hockey Star' and Old Thomian, Ranjith Wijekoon Challenge Trophy. Upcoming Player of the Tournament will receive the Dampiya Wanasinghe Trophy and Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament will receive former Sri Lanka Hockey Goalkeeper and Old Thomian M. Mahesratnam Challenge Trophy. All award winners will also receive handsome cash prizes.
Last year, Christ Church College Matale won the championship while Maris Stella College, Negombo and St. Aloysius College, Galle, were 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up respectively.
Along with the Hockey tournament, the following 10 Hockey players will be felicitated with Golden Awards for their commitments towards Hockey.
Mrs. Kemangani Suwarnamali Aluwihare, (BMS College), Hameed Mohomad Thahir (Zahira College), Themiya Liyanage (Vijaya College), and Matale Old Thomians M.I.M.Anzar, Mahendran Kulandawelu, Mahinda Deegahawatura, Milton Gunawardana, K.J. Kahanda and Indrawansa Herath.
Apart from these, 4 past Teachers of St.Thomas' College Matale, who rendered yeoman service to College, will also be felicitated at the ceremony. They are Manual Pillai, U.B. Weregama, R.N. Amaratunge and D.G. Karunaratna.
PEO TV Channel 20 will carry a live telecast of the event..