Gateway College Kandy opens Sports Complex
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Facilities on offer within the new sports complex
The first phase of the sports complex of Gateway College in Kandy was declared open in Mapanawathura Road in close proximity to the school. The new complex provides for Athletics with a 100 metre track, cricket with three wickets, netball, futsal and tennis.
Also included within the complex is a dormitory that can accommodate 36 athletes at any given time, enabling the school to hold residential sports camps for its students as well as for visiting teams. Part of the land is assigned for the second phase in which a 50 metre swimming pool and a badminton court will be built.
The sports complex was declared open by Mrs. Rohini Alles, the Managing Director of Gateway Group
The complex, declared open by Managing Director, Mrs. Rohini Alles, is named ‘Asoka Herath Sports Complex’. Asoka Herath, who serves as a Director of Gateway has provided yeoman service to the organisation and has been involved very much in the growth and expansion of the school in Kandy. Also present at the simple but elegant opening ceremony were the members of the Directorate, Nirmali Wickremesinghe – Consultant, Gladwin Canagasabey – the Principal, Principals of other Gateway Schools, Thilaka Jinadasa, Team Leader Sports Development, the Heads of Sports of other Gateway Schools and a limited number of officials and students.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Harsha Alles, the Chairman of Gateway Group mentioned that sports is an integral part of Gateway and that in as much as the school wishes to produce more sports men and women in the caliber of Shehan Ambepitiya and Shelinda Jansen, that they also want to make sure that every child takes part in at least one sport.
Aerial view of a section of the sports complex
He noted that the school does not limit sports to within the International School arena only and that the students are encouraged to compete at the highest levels. Gateway College, Kandy already has annual encounters with Trinity College in football, Hillwood College in Netball and St. Sylvester’s College in basketball.
The occasion brought in a breath of fresh air for sports in schools at a time when the entire sector has come to a standstill. Dr. Alles stated that the school has had a marvelous online teaching and learning programme during the last year and that it is time to prepare for students to come back to the playing field as they have been indoors for far too long.
He further elaborated that investing in sports for private schools is extremely challenging as the costs are enormous, but that there is no alternative for schools such as Gateway that strongly believe in a rounded education. The school’s founder, the late R.I.T. Alles, was a firm believer that learning should not be limited to the classroom and it is this belief that continuously propels the Gateway schools.
The flood-lit basketball court at Gateway Kandy, done to international standards, will be a famous venue in time to come