Sri Lankan schools excel at Varsity Boat Races in Malaysia

A group of 15 athletes from Colombo schools took part in the Varsity Boat Races in Putrajaya, held from 3 to 8 October 2023. The Varsity Boat Races is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. The event had the participation of around 400 students from universities and schools in Asia.

Over 12 schools from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka participated in the races in junior men and junior women categories. The Sri Lankan contingent comprised of;

Navithmee Perera, Sanuthmee Perera and Menoli Yatigammana from Diyawanna Rowing Academy. Havishka Perera from British School / Diyawanna Rowing Academy. Tashiya Perera from Diyawanna Rowing Academy. Jaanya Kumarawadu, Ganindu Kirinde, Reshil Peiris and Nathon Gregory from Gateway College. Derion Spittel, Dimitri Nalliah and Oshada Haputhenna from Wesley College and Sulaiman Saleem, Kester Weerasinghe and Sanija Ganewatte from Wesley College / Diyawanna Rowing Academy. The team was coached by Nirmal Gunaratne.

Outstanding results were achieved by the team winning a total of 9 medals. The individual achievements were;

• Junior women single scull - Gateway College junior national rowing pool athlete Jaanya Kumarawadu won Gold,  British School/DRA junior national rowing pool athlete Havishka Perera won Silver and Visaka Vidyala / DRA Sanuthmee Perera was placed 4th.
• Junior women double sculls - British School/DRA Havishka Perera and Diyawanna Rowing Academy Tashiya Perera won Gold and Diyawanna Rowing Academy Navithmee Perera and Menoli Yatigammana were placed 4th.
• Junior men single scull – Wesley College Darion Spittel won Silver, Gateway College Nathon Gregory won Bronze and Wesley College  Sulaiman Saleem was placed 4th.
• Junior men double scull - Gateway College  Ganindu Kirinde and Reshil Peiris won Gold, Wesley College / Diyawanna Rowing Academy Sanija Ganewatte and Kester Weerasinghe  won Silver and Wesley College Dimitri Nalliah and Oshada Haputhenna won Bronze

The performance of all athletes was outstanding bringing honour to their country and respective schools.