Mercantile Swimming C'ship for President's Trophy

Ranjan Anandappa

The fourth Mercantile Swimming Championship organised by the Thurstan College Aquatic Club and conducted by the Sri Lanka Amateur Sports Union (SLAASU) for the President's Trophy will take place on October 10 at the Thurstan College Swimming Complex.

The Mercantile sector, although taking part in various other sports activities did not have a competitive swimming meet, despite a large number of swimmers employed in Mercantile establishments.

This meet will no doubt bring back reputed swimmers into this competitive water sport and further help to popularize the sport.

The inaugural meet was held in 2007 when John Keells Holdings won the trophy. In 2009 too, JKH won the trophy.

Over 70 events are scheduled to be worked out in the two days of this swimming gala. Gratien Gunawardhana, a celebrated old boy of Thurstan who is also the Patron\Founder Director For Life, sole donor of the Swimming Pool Complex said at a press briefing at the SSC pavilion that he realised the importance of Thurstan having a swimming pool of its own and could well remember President Mahinda Rajapaksa cutting the first sod of soil in building the pool.

He further said that his ambition was to see a Thurstanite representing the country at swimming one day and the college pool should provide the opportunity to make this dream come true.

This swimming pool has been declared the cleanest in the city of Colombo by the CMC during their regular check-ups, thus more and more people including foreigners who want to take a plunge or a leisure swim prefer the Thurstan College pool.