Visakha: Emerging as a major force in schools rowing

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo, one of the leading girls schools in Sri Lanka, is fast emerging as a major force in schools rowing .

The Visakha Vidyalaya under 16 Rowing Captain Samakhya Gajanayake.

The Visakha Vidyalaya under 16 Rowing Vice Captain Thisali Siriwardena. Picture by Sarath Peiris

Despite many obstacles, the under 16 team of Visakha Vidyalaya has shown a significant progress in rowing . Having taken to rowing in2009, Visakha Vidyalaya is making steady progress in rowing.

Visakha Vidyalaya triumphed claiming three gold medals and one bronze medal in the Under-16 age group in the women’s category, with a crew of just seven oarswomen in the Inaugural Sri Lanka Schools Rowing Championships concluded recently at the Beira Lake, Colombo.

The under 16 rowing team is captained by Samakhya Gajanayake assisted by Thisali Siriwardena. and the team consists of young oarswomen Deshika Herath, Piyusha Sumanapala, Samali Agalawatta, Hiruni Yapa Abeywardena and Nethmi Saranajeewa.

Apart from that, the Visakhian oarswomen have excelled in the Mora Sculling Regatta organised by University of Moratuwa. They won the overall championship in the schools event.

Six members took part in the event and every member won at least a single medal.The Visakhians were placed second in the girls under 16 double scull and won the gold medals in the girls under 16 scull and girls under 16 pairs event.

Winning the womens pairs event in the Novices Regatta 2012, Securing the second place in the under 16 scull and under 16 double scull in the Bolgoda Regatta 2011, Bronze medals in the school girls colours awards are some of their significant achievements of the Visakha rowers

The captain of the Visakha Vidyalaya under 16 rowing team, Samakhya Gajanayake says that they hope to add more members to their under 16 squad and improve their performances to compete in forthcoming tournaments.

She won the President’s Trophy in 2011 and secured the second place in the girls under 16 doubles scull with Deshika Herath at the Rowing Nationals held in 2010.

The Visakhian under 16 rowing team gets the fullest support from Principal Sandamali Aviruppola, Vice Principal Sandamali Perera, Coach Mahil Gamage, Teachers in Charge Nilu Tennakoon and K.C.Malkanthi.