Sri Lanka divers leave for 14th Singapore National Diving Championships

First row standing (from left): Imaaya Perera, Vinaya Perera, Akeesha Hewavitarana, Selina Silva, Venuka Kankanamge, Seniru Rodrigo, Ruel Wickramaratne, Chanith Nawaratne, Mikhail Jayaweera, Daham Marambe, Yusuf Shihar, Senith Perera, Yashodha Pilapitiya, Vinudi Kankanamge, and Dilshi Fernando 

Second row standing (from left): Raphail Jayaweera, Sushen Wijesinghe, Thasith Liyanage, Michaela Kurukulaarachchi, Areli Silva, Nethanya de Silva, Keira Thumbawila, Ariyana Angunawela, Giyanka Wickramasinghe, Thusith Liyanage, and Rahaa Rizvi 

Seated (from left): lady chaperone Chamila Perera, Assistant Coach Sachin Nilupul, Official Judge from Sri Lanka Isiwaruna de Silva, SLASU Vice President Nethru Nanayakkara, SLASU General Secretary Mahinda Liyanage, Manager and Head Coach Chanaka Wickramasinghe, Team Leader Kisara Ranawaka, and SLASU Diving Technical Committee Member Dr. Sumanthri Samarawikrama 

29 Sri Lankan national divers left recently to take part in the 14th Singapore National Diving Championships 2024 scheduled for this weekend at OCBC Aquatic Centre in Singapore in a bid to win international medals. 

The promising divers including 14 boys from five schools and 15 girls from four schools have been selected from the national competitions organised by Sri Lanka Aquatic Union (SLASU) held in July this year.   

Kisara Ranawaka leads the team while former national and Commonwealth diver Chanaka Wickramasinghe has been appointed as the Head Coach and Sachin Nilupul as his deputy. 

The Singapore National Diving Championships is known for its high standards and competitive spirit, making it an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka’s young divers to showcase their talents and gain valuable experience.

Coach Wickremesinghe said lack of resources for the sport has hindered to develop many talented divers to international standards. 

Diving is included as a sport mainly in Colombo schools. 

The divers will take part in individual 1 meter and 3 meter spring board events as well 5 meter and above platform events while some will take part in two-diver synchronised events as well.  

Boys: Venuka Kankanamge, Thenuwan Meegalla, Yusuf Shihar, Seniru Rodrigo, Ruel Wickramarathna, Daham Marambe, Sushen Wijesinghe, Raphail Jayaweera, Thasith Liyanage and Thusith Liyanage (All from Royal College) Mikhail Jayaweera (Colombo International School), Chanith Nawaratna (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo), Senith Perera (Thurstan College), and Giyanka Wickramasinghe (S.Thomes College, Mount Lavinia)

Girls: Kisara Ranawaka (team leader), Dilshi Fernando, Arianna Angunuwela (All from St. Bridgets Convent), Vinaya Perera, Selina Silva, Imaya Perera, Yashoda Pilapitiya, Nethany De Silva, Keira Thumbawila, Areli Silva, Michaela Kurukulaarachchi, Rahaa Rizvi, (all from Bishops College), Vinudi Kankanamge (Visakha Vidyalaya), and Akeesa Hewawitharana (Sirimawo Bandaranayake Vidyalaya)