Ladies’ College secured their seventh victory in the history of the Ladies vs. Visakha Water Polo Encounter, defeating Visakha Vidyalaya 16–12 in a hard-fought Under-19 contest to reclaim the M.N. Edussuriya Trophy on 21 September 2026.
Entering the pool as the contenders, LC faced a Visakha side determined to defend their title. Their last victory came in 2023, leaving three years between triumphs and plenty at stake for both sides. For LC, it was a chance to end the wait; for Visakha, an opportunity to defend their hold over one of the rivalry’s most coveted prizes. But the final scoreline hardly tells the full story.
With Ladies’ College fielding a side containing players with as many as seven national caps, the experience appeared to be on their side. Visakha, meanwhile, came into the Under-19 contest with a predominantly junior side, featuring players with four national caps.
A Fast Start from Visakha
Visakha wasted little time showing that experience alone would not decide the encounter.
Poojani Wijesinghe opened her account with two goals in the first quarter, while Yesali Jayakody added another for Visakha. Captain Rohansa Vidyarathne also found the net as Visakha established an early lead. Ladies’ College responded through Tharuki Kalansooriya, Andrea Thirukumar and Amershia De Silva, ensuring that the opening period remained within touching distance.
1st Quarter: Visakha 04 – LC 03
The one-goal advantage gave Visakha an early foothold, but Ladies’ College responded strongly in the second quarter.
Visakha continued to find answers through Rohansa Vidyarathne, Senithi Premarathne and Yesali Jayakody, but Ladies’ College began to turn the momentum. Chrishael Robin, Amershia De Silva, Iman Thambydorai, Denila Robin and Tharuki Kalansooriya all contributed to a five-goal quarter for Ladies’ College.
At halftime, the advantage had changed hands.
Halftime: LC 08 – Visakha 07
The momentum, however, was far from settled.
Visakha Refused to Let Go
The third quarter produced perhaps the clearest indication of just how fiercely contested the encounter had become.
Poojani added two more goals to her tally, with Yesali and Vinudi also getting on the scoresheet for Visakha. LC refused to surrender their narrow advantage, with Denila scoring twice and Amershia adding another.
Neither side could establish a decisive advantage.
With eight minutes remaining, everything was level.
3rd Quarter: LC 11 – Visakha 11
For Visakha, the performance was a testament to the resilience of a youthful side playing against an older and more experienced opposition.
Among Visakha’s resistance was 13-year-old Yuleni Kulathilake, who stepped up from Under-15 to guard the Under-19 goal after already completing a full game earlier that day. Her 11 saves helped keep Visakha in the contest, but ultimately, LC found the breakthrough in the decisive final quarter.
The Decisive Eight Minutes
With the score tied at 11–11, the M.N. Edussuriya Trophy came down to the final quarter.
And this time, Ladies’ College found the separation they had been searching for.
Iman and Andrea struck for LC before Tharuki took centre stage. Entrusted with four penalties, she did not disappoint, converting the final two in the last quarter, while Amershia added another as Ladies’ College produced their strongest attacking period of the match.
Visakha could manage only one response, through Enuki Gunatilaka, another Under-15 player.
At the other end, Ladies’ College goalkeeper Sarisha was equally important to her side, producing nine saves of her own.
After three quarters of near parity, the final eight minutes finally created daylight.
Full Time: LC 16 – Visakha 12
A Day Shared Between Two Rivals
The Under-19 result gave Ladies’ College their seventh victory in the history of the encounter and returned the M.N. Edussuriya Trophy to Flower Road.
But Visakha had already secured silverware of their own.
Earlier in the day, Visakha claimed the Gunawardena Challenge Shield after defeating Ladies’ College 17–9 in the Under-15 encounter.
Visakha controlled the opening stages of that game, leading 4–2 after the first quarter and 7–5 at halftime before extending their advantage to 13–7 after three quarters.
Sanuri Vithanage was the standout scorer for Ladies’ College with seven goals, while Iman Thambydorai and Dhaara Nanayakkara scored one apiece. Visakha’s scoring was shared between Anuddya Abeynayaka, Senithi Premarathne, Senthini Ranawaka, Sathya Dorabawila, Chiranya Rodrigo, Enuki Gunatilaka and Oniti De Zoysa.
And in a remarkable twist to the day, Yuleni had been the goalkeeper for Visakha in that game too, recording eight saves before stepping up to the Under-19 contest.
Back to Flower Road
The 21st encounter will be remembered for far more than the final 16–12 scoreline. For Ladies’ College, it marked the end of a three-year wait and a seventh victory in the history of this rivalry.
After three fiercely contested quarters, the score stood at 11–11. But when the decisive moment arrived, LC found the breakthrough, producing a commanding 5–1 final quarter to seal the trophy.
Three years after their last triumph, Ladies’ College had done it again.
The M.N. Edussuriya Trophy was heading back to Flower Road.
