RIYADH, 23 November 2007 — Mahaweli House and Walawe emerged champions for boys and girls respectively at the Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh Inter-House Athletic Meet held on Friday at the Al Hokair sports grounds here .
W.S.M.S. Wijesundera , charge d’ affaires of the Sri Lankan Embassy, was the chief guest, while Arab News Riyadh Bureau staff member Mohammed Rasooldeen was the guest-of-honor at the annual track and field event attended by a large gathering including parents and students and prominent members of the community.
Walawe House were adjudged runners-up , while the Overall Champion Challenge Trophy went to Mahaweli House at the meet where more than 50 events were worked out.
Individual champions were Rizkhan Riyaz- Under 9 Boys- Walawe, Rumaiza Shoib Under 9 –Girls- Walawe, Shinal Peter Perera-Under 11-Boys-Mahaweli, Anne Shinali Fernando-Under 11 Girls-Walawe,Tuwan Ahmat Ziyan-Under 13 Boys-Walawe, Piyalka Ranasinghe- Under 13 Girls- Walawe, T. Ikram Badurdeen- Under 15 Boys-Kelani,Shelani Tissera-Under 15 Girls-Walawe, Buddhie Wiswa Abeyratne-Over 15 Boys- Mahaweli and Saffana Anver Fouzal-Over 15 Girls Mahaweli.
Speaking on the occasion , Wijesundera pointed out that Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh , was the first Sri Lankan school to be established abroad .
“ It serves as an example not only to other Sri Lankan schools in the Kingdom but also to other Sri Lankan foreign schools spread out in several parts of the globe. He said the community is thankful to the people who formed this institution with the initiative of former Ambassador Aboobucker Lebbe Hashim who founded this school with the assistance of a few dedicated community members who were interested in the future of Sri Lankan children who were then staying in the capital.
In his brief speech , Rasooldeen pointed out that sports not only develop one’s physical skills but also moulds one’s character to help the person co-exist with other members of the society .
“ As much as you revel at your victories it also teaches you to accept defeat and learn from it, he told the students , adding that it also makes students to come out as useful citizens in the society. He also stressed that the Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh has earned a good reputation for its outstanding performance in its curricular and extra-curricular activities because of the persistent efforts of both the tutorial staff and its management.
School Principal M.E.M. Farook, thanked all those who contributed to the success of the meet . “ There is room for improvement in your skills, “ he told his students , hoping that they will come out with better performance next year. S. Thangasamy, member of the board of management also congratulated the staff , students past and present for their efforts in staging a spectacular sports meet.
