Joes and Mahamaya leading - 36th Sri Lanka Schools Swimming and Diving Championships

S. K. A. Hulangamuwa from Trinity College, Kandy winning the 1500M Free Style while setting a new meet record with a time of 18:44.09. (Pix by Ranjith Perera)

Mahamaya College, Kandy and St. Joseph’s College, Colombo are currently topping the rankings at the end of the third day of the four day 36th Sri Lanka Schools Swimming and Diving Championships – 2009. The meet is being held at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool.

The meet is set to end with a colourful display of synchronized swimming and diving.

Most notable in these Championships were the records set at the Meet, which stood at 42, at the end of the third day of the meet. Some of the notable records set were when Sachin Kumarajeewa (12 years) a student of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo shaved nearly six seconds off the existing record with a new time of 2:15.39 in the Under 13 200 metres Free Style.

Trinity College’s swimming star, H. B. Unamboowe (16 years) set a new meet record with a time of 1:00.27 in the Under 17 100 metres Backstroke along with another record in the Under 17 50 metre Butterfly with a time of 27.21 – The former, which brought down the existing record by almost six seconds.

Another significant record was set by Udara Cumaratunga (13 years) a student of Visakha Vidyalaya with a new time of 1:16.03 in the Under 17 100 metres Backstroke.

Shehani Mediwaka (15 years) a student of Ladies College, Colombo also set a new meet record Colombo with a time of 38.16 in the Under 17 50 metre Breast Stroke. This bettered the previous record by nearly five seconds, which was certainly impressive for a 50 metre race.

The school ranking as of June 13, 2009 were: (Girls)1. Mahamaya College, Kandy – 286.5, 2. Musaeus College, Colombo – 259.5, 3. Hillwood College, Kandy – 186, 4. Ladies College, Colombo – 163, 5. Visakha Vidyalaya – 121.5. (Boys) 1. St. Joseph’s College, Colombo – 336, 2. Ananda College, Colombo – 259, 3. Royal College, Colombo – 253 4. S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia – 235, 5. Trinity College, Kandy – 219. 5

The 36th Sri Lanka Schools Swimming and Diving Championships – 2009 was organised by the Sri Lanka Schools’ Aquatic Sports Association and sponsored by Milo.