Sport Unleash Schools Sports Awards recognise future stars of Sri Lanka

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The cream of Sri Lanka schools sports were duly recognised at the Sports Unleash Schools Sports Awards, which took place recently at the BMICH in Colombo. Identified as Sri Lanka’s first of its kind to recognise and reward the outstanding performances among the best athletes in all sports disciplines on a single stage, the awards ceremony drew the importance of highlighting these performances for a bright future in sports.

The awards were presented based on the performances during the year 2023, as schoolboys and schoolgirls who achieved the best performances, some representing the country, were given the due spotlight. Among the top athletes recognised were sprinter Tharushi Karunaratne, an Asian Games gold medalist, Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando, a Commonwealth Games medalist, Shevon Daniel, who was picked for the national cricket team, Susal de Silva, a top ranked chess player who won many international awards and swimmer Galina Basnayake. Ananda College and D.S. Senanayake College were declared joint winners of the Best Sports Schools award.

The objective of this awards ceremony is to instill the pathway to success in sports, beginning from the school level up to national and international with a comprehensive work plan. Through this presentation programme, the organisers intend to motivate the young and aspiring athletes, as well as all stakeholders who would play key roles in them reaching and achieving greater heights at international stage, in addition to adding value to their present performances.

“Greats of the games aren’t created on the stroke of luck. Our talented athletes must be encouraged, supported, and nurtured. All performances and significant sports achievements will finally depend on the hard work invested by all stakeholders working together to raise sports standards. Sri Lanka has seen only a few sports recognising their best athletes for years, but if the country is achieve its potential in sports, we must honour the performances of all school sports, as they are the cradle of our future national sports performances. We will strive each year to make this event a special day for our future national champions so that they are encouraged and hold the course, driving themselves to achieve their very best for Sri Lanka,” stated Thilan Rangana, the head of SportsInfo, the entity that pioneered the schools awards ceremony.

The Panel of Jury of the awards ceremony for 2024 was co-chaired by Director General of Sports, Dr. Shemal Fernando and Dr. Harsha Abeykoon, the former Secretary to the Ministry of Sports. Other members of the jury included the Director Sports of Ministry of Education Upali Amaratunga, Ana Punchihewa, Gamini Jayasinghe, Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema, Chandana Ekanayake, Rtd. General Rohana Bandara and Brendon Kuruppu. Founder of Sport Unleash and Power World Gyms Talavou Alailima contributed as financial partner to make the event a success.

“If we plan to impact the world in sports, then we must identify the sports talent of our children at an early age and support them throughout their school sports journey. These winners were the best in 2023 and have proven their sports talent, resolve, determination, passion, and grit, tested by fire to be the best in their sport. Undoubtedly, these athletes will bring honour to Sri Lanka in the years to come. Identifying the best athletes in our schools through the Sport Uneash School Sports Awards is the first step of ‘Vision 2036’, which also launched at the award ceremony. In 2036, India is bidding for the Olympic Games, and as its neighbor, Sri Lanka must compete with honor and target to bring medals home at those games. The initiative brings together all sports stakeholders into a structure that becomes laser-focused and nurtures the champion athletes for the next 12 years,” stated Alailima.

In addition to the award recipients, the jury medals for sports excellence were awarded to Thehas Rithmitha of Ananda College, Susal de Silva of Nalanda College and Galina Basnayake of Lyceum International School for their noteworthy performances in 2023. The awards ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne and Talavou Alailima.

List of award winners

Athletics (Track): Tharushi Karunaratne (Walala A. Ratnayake Central College)
Athletics (Field): Nilupul Pehesara

(Vijitha Central, Dikwella)

Cricket: Shevon Daniel

(St. Joseph’s College)

Swimming: Hiruki de Silva

(Gateway College, Colombo)

Beach Volleyball: Manuja Nisal

(Davisamara Maha Vidyalaya)

Basketball: Isuru Weerakkodi

(D.S. Senanayake College)

Table Tennis: Bimandee Bandara

(Hillwood College, Kandy)

Rugby: Sudesh Jayawickrema

(St. Peter’s College)

Netball: R.M. Chalani Neesha

(Holy Family BV, Kurunegala)

Boxing: Y.V.M. Premaratne

(S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia)

Tennis: Saajida Razick (Bishop’s College)
Badminton: Ranithma Liyanage

(Christ Church Girls’ School, Baddegama)

Karate: C.A. Tharuki Sasindi

(Visaka BV, Sapugaskanda)

Golf: Reshan Algama

(Colombo International School)

Chess: Ranindu Dilshan (Ananda College)
Wrestling: Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando (Walpella Sangarathana MV, Kurunegala)
Squash: Nevindu Lakman

(D.S. Senanayake College)

Shooting: Seja Dassanayake

(Buddhist Ladies’ College)

Saajida Razick of Bishops College became the Most Outstanding Schools Tennis Player of the Year 2023

Tharushi Karunaratne of Walala A. Ratnayake Central was the Most Outstanding Schools Track Athlete of the Year 2023 and her award was received by a representative of her school