Rivinethu  Abbhiman, Sinhala Language literary festival of Richmond College was held on 5^th of July at C.W.W. Kannangara Auditorium , On the invitation of the principal of Richmond college Dr. Lanka de Silva, Senior lecturer and the former head of the department of Sinhala  of the University of Kelaniya  graced this occasion as the chief guest.

This event created a good platform for students to show their Sinhala language skill on the stage. Students were also distributed certificates who placed the Sinhala day competition.

Rivminiharasara felicitation ceremony to felicitate best achievers of Ordinary Level exam and Advance level exam was held of 8^th of July at C.C.W. Kannangara auditorium under the auspices of the principal of Richmond College Mr. Sampath Weragoda

67 students of O/L who got 9 A passes and 52 students of A/L who achieved best in all island and district levels were felicitated in this occasion.

The ceremony of adornment of “Wes” of 16 students who learnt and practiced Eastern dancing at Richmond College was held on 6th June at the Buddhist shrine premises under the traditional eastern dancing  customs. According to the customs of Wes the students were offered to God for a period of days before the ceremony.

The students were adorned “Wes” at the auspicious moment at 6.49 a.m. with the participation of veteran teachers amidst pirith chantings, conch blowings and ceremonial drum beatings .After expelling all evil effects, the dancers presented their debut dance while reciting permitting lines(“waram kavi”).They also presented the ritual “Kohomba Kankariya”.

Three senior Cricket players of the School Cricket team has been selected to play for the Under 19 team, of Sri Lanka against touring Pakistan. The chosen Players are,

1.Captain Thaveesha Abishek

2.All Rounder Sandun Mendis

3.All Rounder Dilum Sudheera

Thaveesha Abishek will play in the 4th and 5th ODI Games against the U19 Team of Pakistan

Dilum Sudheera will play in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ODI Games.

Sandun Mendis Will play in all 5 ODI matches.

We WISH YOU ALL THE BEST!!!!

A thrilling episode of Richmond-Mahinda annual cricket encounter unfolded at Galle International Cricket Stadium on 15^th & 16^th of March as Richmond Cricketers defeated the rivals, Mahinda College by 6 wickets. Richmond College captain Thavesha Abhishek kept his promises made the other night at Principal’s dinner guiding his team to an epic win with an unbeaten 99 in the second innings. It was a professional display of cricket by Richmond senior cricketers taking calculated risk and everybody was of the view that they experienced the best big match of the lifetime.

Having won the toss Richmond captain invited the Mahindian to take first lease of the wicket. Mahindians were very aggressive right from the start and scored quick runs at a rate of around five runs per over. Nipun Mlinga scored quick 44 off 28 balls after falling to Sandun Mendis. Mahindians scored 197 all out and some thought that Richmond captain would have bat first. Dilum Sudheera took 5 for 52 while Sandun Mendis captured 3 for 52. Richmondites were in all sorts of trouble when they were 56 for 6 and Sandun Mendis and Vimud Sapnaka came into their rescue. Sandun Mendis and Vimud Sapnaka scored 34 and 21 respectively. Ultimately Richmondites were bowled out for 144 before lunch on the second day. Kushan Madusha captured 5 wickets for 20 runs for Mahindians.

Mahindians came into bat in their second innings with the first innings lead of 53 runs. They started attacking right from the start making quick runs but wickets fell at regular intervals. But Hansika Welihinda played a matured innings with 70 runs and Mahindins declared when they were 161 for nine before tea setting a target of 214 runs for Richmond which they had to score in remaining 44 overs of the day. Vinuja Kiriella fell early to Kushan Madusha for 1 run but opener Adithya Siriwardene and bay of the side Banuka Manohara slowly built a good partnership. Adithya fell LBW to Subanu Rajapaksha at 26 and Banuka was joined by his skipper Thaveesha. Banuka & Thaveesha started building a very solid partnership creating expectation for a victory. Banuka Manohara was bowled by Pasan Pethangoda when he was 40 and Thaveesha was joined by Dilum Sudheera. Thaveesha and Dilum guided Richmond to their wining target scoring runs fearlessly all around the ground while even taking 2’s and 3’s regularly. Mahindians could not stop the flow of runs scored by the two batsmen. Thavessha was leading from the front hitting over the rope many occasions. Dilum Sudheera was run out for 41 when only 11 runs were needed to win. It was a tense moment for everyone as Richmondites had to score 8 runs in the last over. Mahindins trusted their star player Nipun Mlinga to bowl the last over. Mainga had a battle ahead of him as it was Thavessha who was on 91 and seeing the ball like football, to face him. First ball was on yoker length right outside off stump an keep collected the ball. Thaveesha drove the second ball straight along the ground for four runs and it went like a tracer bullet. The next ball was a full toss on leg stump and Thaveesha guided the ball to fine leg boundary and that was it. Richmondites sealed off an epic and dramatic win at their 114^th “Lovers’ Quarrel”. Thaveesha Abhishek who scored an unbeaten 99 was adjudged the “Man of the match” while Dilum Sudheera who captured 9 scalps with 5 for 52 in the first innings and 4 for 56 in the second innings was adjudged “The best bowler”

Mahindians had a positive approach to the game this year, believing in themselves and targeting a possible victory. They certainly secured the honours of the first day. But the pendulum was swinging both ways endorsing the well known “uncertainty of the game of cricket”.

Full Score Card

Another traditional event associated in parallel to the  Lovers’ Quarrel, The Roar of Two brave Lovers, Richmond Mahinda big debate was held on the 13^th of March 2019 at Sir Henry Steel Olcott Hall, Mahinda College. Sinhala and English debating teams, a team of Old boys from both schools took part in this traditional event.

The annual cricket encounter between Richmond College and Mahinda College also fondly known as “The Lovers’ Quarrel” was started way back in 1905.

Records of Debating of Richmond College can be found during the period of the Principal, Rev. J.H Darrel. However, Richmond and Mahinda friendly debate was started much later in the 1940s.

Debating Teams of Richmond College.

English:  Rasula Yaithya (Captain), Lakindu Kariyawasam, Himanshu Sahabandu, Chehan Jayasuriya, Shashmitha Kurukula Arachchi.

Sinhala: Dulasith Nanayakkara (Captain), Nisala Nuwanidu, Thisara Kavinda, Tharuka Thathsara, Chamod Dewunith.

Debating Teams of Mahinda College.

English: Tharindu Mahendra(Captain), Devin Bopage, Navoda Nirmal. Savin Edirisinghe, Sandil Damsara

Sinhala: Isara Upamada(Captain), Akindu Narangoda, Charith Induwara, Lehan Nalagamage, Navoda Nirmal.

Tour De Force, which was organized in parallel to the Lovers quarrel , joined cycle parade of both Richmond and Mahinda colleges was held on the 10^th of March 2019 under the auspice of the principals of both schools, Mr. Sampath Weragoda and Mr. Gamini Jayawardana. Students, old boys and parents paraded over 15km peacefully demonstrating the true friendship and brotherhood among the two school that has been there for over a century.

Richmond Walk 2019″was held successfully on 22nd February 2019, in order to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Old Boys’ Association of Richmond College. The principal Mr.Sampath Weragoda, past principal B.Suriarachchi and many other distinguished guests participated along with the old boys, staff and students to walk.

Starting around at 8:00 a.m. from the school premise they walked to “Samanala ground” where “Richmond Rhythm”carnival was also set to happen. It was too organized in celebration of 125th anniversary of RCOBA. There the end of the walk was marked the beginning of the Rhythm carnival.

Not only with the Richmond community but also with many enticing items, the extravagance of walk was enhanced. Old fashioned automobiles and horse riders were some of the enticements.Members of all the sports and games and clubs and societies of Richmond College walked with their separate placards. Their voices in a unison, resonated R-I-C-H-M-O-N-D-Richmond”

The inter-house Primary sports-meet 2019 was held last Thursday the 21st of February with the participation of the renowned richmonddite  Dr.Gayan Eyanayake. There were many events in the sports-meet including the drill display and the ceremonial march past. This event has created a good platform to young Richmonddites to show their talent .