Reviewed by Dilith Halahakoon (Web Content Team)
As the sun shone on the historic grounds of Asgiriya, young Trinity athletes were gearing up for a day of excitement, sportsmanship, and dedication as the Junior School Inter-House Athletic Meet 2026 was held on the 12th of February.
As Trinitians prepared to take the baton for the day, the opening ceremony was held vibrantly, welcoming the Chief Guest, escorted by the Under 8 and Under 9 Champions of the Year 2025. The ceremonial hoisting of the National Flag was done by our Chief Guest, Mr. Muthiah Chandrasekaran, a respected entrepreneur and proprietor of a well-established jewellery business in Colombo, with many years of experience in business operations, customer relations, and administration. The College Flag was hoisted by the Principal, Very Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara (Prior OSB).
Mr. Chandrasekaran is a proud Old Boy of Trinity College Kandy, having studied at the College from 1965 to 1975. During his school years, he demonstrated strong leadership qualities and a deep involvement in school life. He represented Trinity College in Hockey at the Under-14 level and served in key student leadership roles as Vice President of the Tamil Literary Union and as President of the Hindu Student Movement.
He continues to serve the College with dedication and currently holds office as the President of the Trinity College Kandy Old Boys’ Association, Colombo Branch, contributing to over three decades of committed service to the Trinity community.
After a prayer by our College Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Sanjaya Gamage, attention then turned to a tradition passed down from generation to generation: the Lighting of the Olympic Lamp. This tradition, derived from ancient Greek backgrounds, was completed by the Athletic Captains of the competing Houses.
The Athletes’ Oath took place thereafter, as the House Captains pledged their allegiance to the rules, completing yet another long-standing tradition of the Junior School Athletic Meet.
Following a display of discipline and musical talent by the Junior School Western Band, the Interhouse Athletic Meet was officially declared open by the Principal.
A vibrant and energetic Drill Display with colourful umbrellas, flowing to the rhythm of modern beats was then performed by the students of the Junior School.
The Junior School Gymnastics Team followed, showcasing their impressive abilities and athletic agility, after which the competitive events commenced.
Track events, encompassing the Under 8 9, and 10 age groups, were highly competitive. The field became a blur of colour as the five Houses went head-to-head, each striving to take the trophy home. Despite the competitive atmosphere, it was heartening to observe that our young Trinitians never set aside the values of sportsmanship in their pursuit of victory.
After an exhilarating day of nail-biting action, it was finally time to reveal which House would take the shield home. As the award ceremony began, suspense steadily built. One by one, students walked up to Mrs. Chandrasekaran and later Mr. Muthiah Chandrasekaran to receive their certificates and trophies, respectively. After a closely contested competition, the Under 8 category was won by Master S.G. Abeypala of Carter Reds, the Under 9 category by Master A.M.S.N. Adikari of Boarding House, and the final Under 10 category by Master S. Adrien of Carter Reds.
Our young athletes showcased exceptional talent throughout the day, posing a strong challenge to records dating back to the 20th century. While many students equalled existing records, several athletes went on to break them, etching their names into history. Master A.M.S.N. Adikari of Boarding House broke the existing record of 11.35 seconds for the Under 9 – 75m race by recording 11.15 seconds. He also surpassed the existing long jump record of 3.68m with a jump of 3.69m. Master T.T.M. Kankanamge of Boarding House broke the Under 10 – 75m record by clocking 10.67 seconds, improving on the previous 10.84 seconds. Master Y.B. Gajanayake of Boarding House broke the put shot record of 6.05m with an impressive throw of 7.12m. TCK Congratulates all the record breakers of the year 2026.
As the final results drew closer, the atmosphere at the Asgiriya grounds grew increasingly tense, with eager students ready to cheer their respective Houses as the results were announced.
After a closely contested tally, the Junior Houses scored as follows:
1st Place – Carter Blue – 231 points
2nd Place – Carter Yellow – 146 points
3rd Place – Campbell House – 141 points
4th Place – Carter Red – 130 points
5th Place – Boarding House – 129 points
As students chanted passionately, displaying pride in their Houses, it became clear that the Junior School Athletic Meet had been a vibrant success. Following a day filled with congratulations and commiserations, the Meet drew to a close as Master Rithin Seneviratne delivered a heartfelt Vote of Thanks. With the College Flag lowered by the Scouts and the Bugle sounded by the Cadet Band, the Athletic Meet concluded, adding more names to the book of records and creating lasting memories for our young Trinitians.
In conclusion, this event would not have been the tremendous success it was without the efforts of several key individuals. Gratitude is first extended to Mr. and Mrs. Chandrasekaran for gracing the occasion. Sincere thanks are also due to the College Management Team, the College Executive Council, and PROMWEB for coordinating the efforts that made this celebration of talent possible. Special appreciation is extended to the Headmistress of the Junior School, Mrs. C.P.K. De Tissera, the Secretary of the Sports Meet, Mrs. Pradeepa Kobbekaduwa, and the Acting Sports Coordinator of the Junior School, Mrs. Sulakshana Abeynayake, for their guidance and dedication. The commitment of the referees and the Director of Sports, Mr. Gihan Samarasekara, is also acknowledged for ensuring the smooth conduction of the event. Finally, heartfelt thanks go to the senior Housemasters and Housemistresses, teachers, parents, and above all, the students, who made this Athletic Meet a truly memorable and enjoyable occasion.
