Trinity Army to keep sports alive
View(s):The object of the ‘Trinity Army’ is to be the largest group of organised supporters to represent any sports event that ‘Trinity College, Kandy’ participates in. The movement began with supporters gathering to cheer and encourage the Trinity College rugby team endorsing their ‘Trinity Army T-shirts’ at the venue. Rapidly gaining momentum the movement now reunites over 2,500 past pupils of Trinity College at these sports functions.
Trinity Army Founders - From Left Niroshan Goonawardena, Dushan De Silva, Trinity Principal Brigadier Udaya Ariyaratne and Migara Maddumapatabendi.
Trinity Army rugby team is another solid initiative of the Trinity Army group to increase the camaraderie. Trinity has produced many great rugby players but only few continued in playing for Clubs and the Country due to the lack of financial gains.
Trinity Army’s intention is to keep rugby alive in their lives where they will still represent Trinity but in a less competitive manner so that they don’t have to pick between Sports vs Career. In the longer run this initiative it is hoped that Trinity can really form a Club rugby team. Trinity Army team is Captained by 1999 Trinity 1st XV Captain Shanaka Yasaratne and his deputy is Nuwan Wellalage who was also the Vice Captain in 2001.
Future plans include a blood donation campaign and a permanent plan to help the college.
The idea was initiated by Dushan De Silva and initiated with the support of Niroshan Goonawardena and Migara Maddumapatabendi. The move brought in over 1000 participants for the 1st leg of the ‘Bradby Shield’ held in Kandy on June 1st 2012, which was also the first organised event to bring together the ‘Trinity Army’. This is the first body to gather this amount of supporters and the group is receiving mentoring services from Premasiri Maddumapatabendi, a teacher who has taught Trinitians for 25 years.