The 38th All-Island Schools Sports Festival was held successfully, and its closing ceremony took place yesterday (October 14) at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama.
Nearly fifteen thousand students from schools across the island took part in team events, while about five thousand athletes participated in track and field events, representing 1,170 schools nationwide.
K.L. Ayomal Akalanka, representing Ambagamuwa Central College, won the Most Outstanding Male Athlete award, while Jithma Wijethunga of Lyceum International School, Wattala, was honored as the Most Outstanding Female Athlete of the tournament.
In the Under-20 Men’s 400m Hurdles, Ayomal Akalanka achieved a time of 49.90 seconds, while Jithma Wijethunga clocked 54.09 seconds in the Under-20 Women’s 400m. Both performances earned them their respective awards.
Omel Sashintha of St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana, won the trophy for Best Junior Athlete (Under-20 Men’s 400m – 46.17 sec), and H.U. Jayasinghe of St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, secured the trophy for Best Throwing Event Athlete (Under-20 Men’s Shot Put – 16.27m).
The trophy for Best Hurdles Athlete was also awarded to K.L. Ayomal Akalanka (Under-20 Men’s 400m Hurdles – 49.90 sec), while Oshini Kodikara of St. Lawrence’s School, Colombo 06, won the Best Jumping Event Athlete award (Under-20 Girls’ Long Jump – 6.03m).
This year’s championships, organized by the Sports and Physical Education Division of the Ministry of Education, included participation from athletes representing the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Northern, Southern, Eastern, North Central, North Western, and Western Provinces.
A total of 38 new national school records were set during this year’s athletic meet, which lasted for five days.
Maris Stella College, Negombo won the Overall Boys’ Championship with 148 points, while Lyceum International School, Wattala won the Overall Girls’ Championship with 213 points. Notably, both schools won their respective overall championships for the third consecutive time, marking a significant achievement.
St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa became Boys’ Runners-Up with 99 points, and A. Rathnayake Central College, Walala won Girls’ Runners-Up with 93 points.
Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa and Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya, secured third place among boys and girls respectively, with 77 and 61 points.
In the Inter-Provincial Competition, the Western Province emerged champions with 1,277 points, followed by the Central Province with 414 points, and the North Western Province in third place with 315.5 points.
The closing ceremony of the festival was held under the patronage of Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Sunil Kumara Gamage, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Madhura Senevirathne, and Ministry Secretary, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, along with other ministry officials.
A total of nine new records were set on the final day (October 14). A remarkable highlight of this year’s meet was Tharushee Abhisheka Premasiri of Vikramabahu National School, Gampola, who won three events, each with a new record — a truly exceptional achievement.
