Sanjaya wins Ryde Gold Medal

Hafiz Marikar

Rugby Lion W.S. Sanjaya Somasiri who played for the Sri Lanka Youth team in 2011, was awarded the highest award of the school at the Trinity College prize giving, held under the distinguished patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa last morning.

Ryde Gold Medal is the highest award at Trinity, which is awarded each year to the “Best all-round senior student”. The Ryde Gold Medal is the highest honor that the School can bestow. It is awarded on the result of a secret ballot conducted among the senior boys (Grade 11-14) and the staff whose votes together with that of the Principal each count as one.

While this system makes deadlock possible it is only on four occasions that the Medal has not been awarded as a result of the three votes going to three different people. The Medal cannot be won more than once. The Ryde Gold Medal was first presented in 1908 to John Andrew but he was not the first boy in the history of the school to be adjudged the best all-rounder.

Historical records show that such a prize has been awarded as early as 1894. The Ryde Gold Medal is named after Rev. R. W. Ryde a former Principal of Trinity (1900-1902).

The sports award at the Prize Giving Cricket:

N. Dickwella won the best sportsman of the year award. In addition he won the cricketer of the year award, special cricket ward and the best batting prize. The best bowler’s award went to J.

Premaisnghe. Fielding to A. Fernando and Best All-rounder award was won by A. Jayasundara.

The under-17 best batting prize went to Ron Chandraguptha, Bowling Raveen Sayer and Fielding L. Jayasinghe.

[Rugger]

Best Ruggerite of the year award was won by D.N.B.Udalagama, Halique Wadood won the most

improved player of the season. The three special awards in rugby was awarded to T.D. Krunathilake, M.Insaf and R.N. Alwis.

[Athletics]

Seniors K.M.G.K.D. Ratnayake, K.D. Athurupana, Athletics special award went to D.B.Delwita, H.M.Wijegunawardena, Y.T.B.T. Pitawala and S. N. Liyanage.

[Basketball]

Outstanding players award was won by D.C.B.Ududeniya and Prasad Galahthawela

[Tennis]

Best player H.E. Fernando

[Weightlifting]

Special award - L.Karunatilake, A. Naushard, H.U.P.E. Samarasekara, K.H.B.Senavirtane, U. Samarasekara, L.Girihagama. The best badminton player of the year - C.S.Amarasinghe

[Table Tennis]

Best players M.Z.M. Siraj and M.D.S.Peries.

[Swimming]

C.N. Hulangamuwa and T.Edussuriya and the special award in swimming was won by C.M.N. Hulagamuwa, T. Edssuriya and K.P.S B de Silva.

[Chess]

The special award: W.C.C.Perera, M.D.Y.N. Lamawansa. The J. William Ayadurai award for the most versatile sportsman went to L.Girihagama. The games All Round Excellence Senior prize went to T.G. Dahrmasena and K.H.B. Senavirtne.

The most outstanding sports team of the year 2012: Cricket team

The most enthusiastic team – 2012: Rugby team.