Highlighting Lankan debating talent at upcoming world championships
It will be a milestone to be marked for The Debaters’ Council of Sri Lanka in July 2019 when they prepare for their role as hosts for the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) 2019. Come next year Colombo will play host to 500+ debaters from 50-60 countries who will gather for the tournament to be held from July 23, 2019 to August 2, 2019.
Kithmina
While the chance to host the competition is a tremendous accomplishment for Sri Lanka, it also highlights the country as the first in South Asia to host the prestigious international event. Winning the bid on behalf of Sri Lanka at the recently concluded World Championship in Bali (with 37 out of 50 votes), the Debaters’ Council which is Sri Lanka’s focal body for English debating sees this as a huge opportunity for local young debaters and the country alike. “Hosting 500 international guests (and young students in particular) is a chance to change those perceptions,” explains Kithmina Hewage, (Deputy Convener ). The chance to redefine Sri Lanka’s potential both from an academic and cosmopolitan standpoint is as important as the exposure that Sri Lanka’s young debaters would get from the experience, in addition to the forming of friendships and working together to discuss and debate important global issues.
Although only 5 speakers will make up the national team for Sri Lanka, “we hope to make debates open to the public so hundreds of local schoolchildren will be exposed to the highest standard of reasoned critical exchange,” Kithmina adds. In addition, they hope to include a volunteer base of 200 current and recent students to help with the tournament.
Still in the preliminary stages of organizing, the team consisting of Tamara Fernando: Co Convenor, Manisha Dissanayake Co-Convenor along with Kithmina managed to beat big contenders for the bid to host such as South Korea which has played host to the WSDC back in 2007 as well as several university tournaments. “In terms of facilities and funders, they were better prepared,” he admits. The WSDC community however, was impressed by Sri Lanka’s concept- a “tournament for the community.” The chance to allow Sri Lankan children to able to watch teams from around the world compete. “The impact and exposure would be disproportionately greater” says Kithmina, which immediately made Sri Lanka stand out as a forerunner.
The debaters’ Council is currently looking to secure sponsorships and support for the international event. They invite companies who will recognize the local and global reach of a tournament like this and partner with them. Interested parties are invited to email them at debaterscouncil@gmail.com
Manisha
Tamara