Arts
Lanka gave its best shot against ace Canadian team
They may not have grabbed the gold, but the Sri Lankan team at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) had the thrill of riding to a heady final where they locked wits online with an ace Canadian team- the closest a Sri Lankan debating team had come to glory in this international competition.
The Sri Lankans- the same prodigious team that brought home the Tilbury House Championship trophy exactly two months back gained ground steadily beating Scotland, England, Ireland and Hong Kong in the knockout rounds before securing the runner-up spot at the tournament which saw 68 countries participating.
The finals which were held online last Sunday evening made for a ‘very high quality debate’ according to the judges, says Chanidu Ratnayake from Ananda College, a member of the Sri Lanka team. The topic for the big night was far from the usual ethical/ political wrangles rife with jargon- simpler, ubiquitous and closer to the heart:
“You are a talented, middle class person in your early twenties about to start your career. You have the choice between a job in which you will make a lot of money and work long hours (e.g., investment banker. Corporate lawyer) and a job which pays less but that you are more passionate about (e.g., social worker, chef, teacher, small business owner, etc.)”
The Sri Lankan team had to argue in favour of choosing passion over monetary gain.
Kithmina Hewage, head coach, says that the debate was ‘very close’. But Canada, he says, deserved the win as a ‘highly experienced, better team’.
Adds Chanidu, “We gave it our best effort and, well, there’s always the next time.”
The Sri Lankan team comprised Shalem Sumanthiran (Royal College), Janul de Silva (also from Royal), Chanidu Ratnayake (Ananda College), Jasmine Markandu and Rahul de Silva (both from Colombo International School) with Reiha Wimalasekere (Ladies’ College) as reserve.Sanjit Dias was technical coach.