Last week’s Sri Lanka Schools’ Age Group Aquatic Championship that took place for the 43rd successive occasion saw four days of exciting action with a staggering number of 35 records broken during the course of the championship.
While St. Joseph’s College and Mahamaya College Kandy emerged champions, we take a look at the individual performances that made it to the record books.
Vinoli Kaluarachchi – Sirimavo Bandaranayake Vidyalaya Colombo
A total of three records were re-written under 16-year-old Vinoli Kaluarachchi’s name in the 2016 championship. Kaluarachchi, who hails from Sirimavo Bandaranayake Vidyalaya Colombo, was also named the Best All-round Swimmer in the Under 17 age category.
1. Girls’ Under 17 200 Meter Backstroke Senior – 2:33.48 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 2:39.48 on 6/28/2012 by Ishani Erandika Senanayake
2. Girls’ Under 17 100 Meter Backstroke Senior – 1:08.42 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 1:11.52 on 6/29/2012 by Nadeera Jayasekara
3. Girls’ Under 17 50 Meter Backstroke Senior: 31.21 seconds
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 32.86 on 6/30/2012 by Nadeera Jayasekara
Ramudi Samarakoon – Visakha Vidyalaya
South Asian Games medal winner and up and coming swimmer Ramudi Samarakoon claimed two schools’ records in the championships and also took honours as the best swimmer in the under 15 age category.
1. Girls’ Under 15 200 Meter Breaststroke Senior – 2:51.06 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 2:55.53 on 6/19/2008 by Gihara Amarasinghe
2. Girls’ Under 15 50 Meter Breaststroke Senior – 36.64 seconds
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 36.73 seconds in 2007 by Mineka Karunaratne
Hiruni Perera – Harischandra College Negombo
The young swimmer from Harischandra College Negombo broke three records while sharing the Best Swimmer in the Under 17 category award with Vinoli Kaluarachchi.
1. Girls’ Under 17 50 Meter Butterfly Senior – 30.51 seconds
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 31.20 on 6/28/2012 by Hashini Mathew
2. Girls’ Under 17 100 Meter Butterfly Senior – 1:08.64 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 1:10.58 on 6/19/2014 by Hiruni De Zoysa
3. Girls’ Under 17 200 Meter Individual Medley Senior – 2:38.45 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 2:41.51 on 6/19/2014 by Hiruni De Zoysa
Dilanka Shehan – Nalanda College
The sixteen year old from Nalanda College made his mark this year refreshing three records which won him the award for the Best Swimmer in the Under 17 age category. Shehan went on to break an 18 year old record that was set in 1998 by J. Wijerathne.
1. Boys’ Under 17 800 Meter Freestyle Senior – 9:15.98 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 9:15.98 on 6/19/2013 by C.M.N. Hulangammuwe
2. Boys’ Under 17 100 Meter Freestyle Senior – 55.00 seconds
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 55.02 in 1998 by J. Wijerathne
3. Boys’ Under 17 400 Meter Freestyle Senior – 4:22.34 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 4:25.59 on 6/20/2013 by C.M.N. Hulangammuwe
Imesh Chaturanga
The champion swimmer in the Under 19 Boys’ category, Imesh Chaturanga was the highlight in the top tier and also was able to set a new record in the Butterfly stroke event. Chaturanga broke a 22 year old Sri Lanka Schools’ record that was set by G. Dulapandena.
1. Boys’ Under 19 200 Meter Butterfly Senior – 2:13.54 minutes
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 2:15.05 in 1994 by G. Dulapandena
Akalanka Peris
The Asia Schools’ silver medallist and Peterite swimmer was able to get two new school swimming records under his name. The short course swimmer excelled in the Butterfly and Backstroke events.
1. Boys’ Under 17 50 Meter Butterfly Senior – 26.08 seconds
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 26.11 on 6/18/2013 by K.T. Cherantha De Silva
2. Boys’ Under 17 50 Meter Backstroke Senior – 27.75 seconds
Previous Sri Lanka Schools’ Record: 28.63 on 6/20/2014 by Imesh Chatharanga
