Over 3,000 athletes for International Schools Meet

Ranjan Anandappa

Over 3,000 athletes (boys and girls) from 22 International Schools will be pitted against each other at the 12th International Schools Athletic Championship, sponsored by Ritzbury Champ which will be held from February 17 to 19 at the Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium Diyagama, Homagama from 8am to 6pm each day.

This event is to be considered as an important one in the International schools curriculum which brings all the students together in a hard fought competition in a friendly atmosphere for the 12th year in succession. The meet is conducted according to International regulations which includes electronic timing and measurements.

Dr. Frank Jayasinghe, Chairman, Association of Principals Of International Schools in Sri Lanka disclosed at a press briefing at the Gymkhana Club Board Room that the idea of having a meet of this nature mooted in 2001 when the International Schools were denied in taking part of local school meets.

We made several representations to the Ministry at that time to allow International Schools to participate at local meets, but it did not work.

So we thought to go on our own, and Gateway International School gave the start in conducting the first meet which was a tremendous success said Jayasinghe.

To conduct a meet of this nature it is necessary to have a big school with lot of resources. As a result Gateway and Lyceum International paved the way by conducting the meets alternatively for twelve years. The meet has so far produced four athletes who have represented the country, and it is certain that more should follow with the enthusiasm of the students to perform well.

Sam Chandrasena the former Sri Lanka badminton player who is the Director General of the International Schools Athletic Championship (ISAC) said that once the International Schools were debarred in taking part at local school meets it was the brainchild of R.I.T. Alles that gave the opportunity for the students of International schools by conducting a competitive athletic championship of this nature. Since then the meet has gone from strength to strength, because at the beginning it had only 13 schools, but now it has 22 schools and it has produced four athletes who have represented the country.

Mrs. Kumari Grero Coordinating Principal - Lyceum International School, Nugegoda, Nadeeja Karunathileka AGM Marketing, CBL Foods International (Pvt), Mrs. Buddhika Pathiraja Deputy Coordinating Principal and Janaka Boteju, Public relation Manager CBL also spoke.