Netball: Ranjan Wijeyrathna MV lasses sweat in the Sugarcane fields to conquer field

"My girls harvested sugar cane to buy their kits to participate at the Milo Trophy Schools Netball Championship" confessed Dulani Sugathalatha. 

Sugathalatha is the elated coach cum teacher in charge of the Under-18 Netball team of Ranjan Wijeyrathna Maha Vidyalaya Buttala who bagged the Division 'B' crown at the XXV Milo Trophy Schools Netball Championship in Matara was all smiles. 

"Ranjan Wijeyrathna MV is a school situated within the Pelawatta Sugarcane plantation and the livelihood of most families is farming and providing manual labor. The girls who were well aware of the financial difficulties faced by their families did not want to burden them and had worked in the sugarcane fields to collect money for their sportswear to attend the championship in Matara. It was with great difficulty that I first convinced the parents to permit their children to take part in sports and attend practices. Today the girl’s enthusiasm and dedication has paid dividends. I am lucky to have the fullest supported of our principal or we would never have achieved this" she added 

Whilst in Matara dressed in their new gear, the lasses from Buttala overcame Buwanekaba MV Maharagama 10/0, Mahinda MV Gettuwana 11/9, Anurudhdha MV Lunuwila 14/8 and Devi Balika MV Dompe 22/17 to bag the division B crown. 

The team was led by Ayesha Sandamali included Upeksha Sewwandi, Ahinsa Sandeepani, Sakunthala Rathnayaka, Damayanthi Ariyasena, Dilki Madushani, Dipika Priyadarshini, Ruvini Nisansala, Nimesha Madushani and Nilisha Sewwandi.