Deaf Schools at sports

The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana, is favoured to win the Caltex trophies at the Deaf Schools netball and six-a-side softball cricket tournaments, which are to be held on Saturday 21st June at the Shalika grounds, Narahenpita, Colombo-5 from 8.30 a.m. onwards.

The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana also hope to win the Caltex trophies at the Deaf Schools volleyball tournament (boys and girls) which is to be held on Saturday July 5 at the School for the Deaf grounds, Ratmalana, from 8.30 a.m. onwards.

The prize distribution will be held in the evening on the same days. These tournaments are organised by the Deaf School Past Pupils’ Association, The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana.

Chervon Lubricants Lanka PLC (then Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd) is sponsoring these tournaments for the seventh successive year.

The teams that have entered for the cricket - The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana - the defending champions, last year runners-up The School for the Deaf and Blind, Tangalle, Sri Sudarshi Deaf and Blind School, Bandarawela, Islamic Centre for Physically Handicapped, Thihariya, Rohana Special School, Matara, Yasodara Deaf and Blind School, Balangoda, Sayana Deaf School, Matale, Siviraja Deaf and Blind School, Mahawewa, Deaf and Blind School Kandy and Sandagala School for the Deaf, Kurunegala.

The netball champions, The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana and other strong contenders for the title are Siviraja Deaf and Blind School, Mahawewa, Rohana Special School, Matara, Sri Sudarshi Deaf and Blind School, Bandarawela and Sayan Deaf School, Matale.

The chief guest will be Bertram Paul, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Chervon Lubricants Lanka PLC while Kingsley Munaweera, Chairman, Special Olympics, Sri Lanka will be the guest of honour.

The teams that have entered for volleyball - The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana, Siviraja Deaf and Blind School, Mahawewa, Sandagala School for the Deaf, Kurunegala, Sayan Deaf School, Matale, Yasodara Deaf and Blind School, Balangoda, Islamic Centre for Physically Handicapped, Thihariya, Rohana Special School, Matara, Sri Sudarshi Deaf and Blind School, Bandarawela and Sandagala School for the Deaf, Kurunegala.

The chief guest will be Dilan Perera, Minister of Justice and President, Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation while Kishu Gomes, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Chervon Lubricants Lanka PLC will be the guest of honour. The tournaments will be held under the guidance of former sports star Shivantha Vivekanandan who is the president and chairman, Organising Committee, Deaf School Past Pupils’ Association from the School for the Deaf, Ratmalana.

He said that the main intention of conducting sports activities like netball, cricket and volleyball was to popularise and promote sports among the deaf community.

He thanked the management of Chervon Lubricants Lanka PLC, Seylan Bank PLC, Sampath Bank PLC, Stassens Exports Ltd, Ceylon Cold Stores PLC and Bank of Ceylon for their valuable support and encouragement.

Marie Wijeyaratne (Principal), the members of the Deaf School Past Pupils’ Association and the Parent-Teachers Association, The School for the Deaf, Ratmalana have also been involved in making arrangements for the tournaments.