Dhammika has rendered yeoman service to promote sports at Mahamaya

(Upananda Jayasundera Kandy Sports Special Corr)

Dhammika Mahawattage nee Alwis an Old Girl of Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy has been the Prefect of Games at Mahamaya from 1997 onwards. She has been doling a fine job in getting the girls to keep improving in their sports activities in the school.

Dhammika was a student at Mahamaya in the 1970's and represented the school in Athletics, Netball, Basketball, Badminton and Hockey. Having been a sports loving girl, she easily fit into the administrative side of sports activities in the school.

She was able to teach the finer points in Netball, Basketball and Athletics to the children.

Dhammika represented the Sri Lanka Netball team between 1970 and 1981 as a centre as well as a wing attack. Among her contemporaries were Hyacinth Wijesinghe, Dhammika Nobert, Jinadarie Liyanage and Kamala Kulathilake to name a few.

Dhammika was a member of the Sri Lanka Netball team that toured India in 1980 but before that she missed tours to Seychelles in 1972 and England in 1979 due to personal reasons.

In Basketball she played for Central Province schools and also had the opportunity to follow a coaching course in Basketball. In Athletics her pet event was long jump and she won this event at the 1973 All Island schools athletic meet.

At the Teachers All Island athletic meet she was awarded the Best Athletic Award in the year 1978. She also represented Central Province schools in Hockey and Badminton.

Dhammika Mahawattage's knowledge on most sports has brought rich rewards to Mahamaya in the sports field.

She feels that sports cannot be improved at school level unless the parents take an active interest in the sports activities of their children.

When Dhammika was a school girl, her father, Francis Alwis was her guiding light and she gained such knowledge from her father Francis Alwis captained Dharmaraja College, football team and was a leading Cricketer and Hockey player too.

Dhammika's husband Chandra Mahawattage was the former Prefect of games at St Anthony's College, Katugastota and after his retirement he took up duties as sports co-ordinator at St Anthony's College Sports Complex.