News & Events

Richmond College under 12 shuttlers  thrived into history. How it all happened.
Contributed by an overjoyed Richmond Badminton Fan

For  Raichmomdites badminton is  not a strange game. It has a proud history of making international level shuttlers since 1960. Giving  witness to its  inheritance in the name of Badminton , present under 12 team  regained Championship of under 12 Badminton A Division All Island Schools Championship after 19 years beating defending champions Annanda Colege Colombo which concluded at Dr C.W.W Kannangara Memorial Hall, Richmond College, Galle .This tournament was  organized by Sri Lanka School Badminton Association.

Richmond College badminton game got a new life with the arrival of new Coach Pavithra Abesirigunawardhana who  himself a Richmondite who has played for his college the during  80-90s. He is an enthusiastic young personality  having clear vision with great commitment. No sooner his appointment was made his under 14 team was crowned as under 14 All Island Champions beating Royal College Colombo.

Pavithra’s preparations for the under 12 tournament were well planned. He selected his players with a great precision. Team captain Kasun Amarasena,  a classic player who represented Sri Lanka in an overseas tour was at  his peak. Another Young player in the same  age group Pasindu Guruge  was his  second player for the tournament.  Naulika welagedara  , the youngest  son of Mr Asoka Welegedra who has won many colours in Cricket ,Badminton, Soccer and  Athletics  during his school time(1970s) was placed to play the third single. For the first double the pair was Naulika and Pasindu.  This was an ideal pair which can stand up against any team in the under 12 group. Pavithra  selected another young player Duleen Wickramasuriya  of 10-11 age group, who was  the vice captain of the under 10 runners up team in year 2008. Duleen was asked to play with veteran player Kasun Amarasena . This pair was Pavithra’s last resort to change any game. Other three players who performed well in previous matches, Oshan Wathsala , Lindula and Thilina were placed as reserves to be used at any time .

The boys easily won preliminary round matches and got qualified to play quarter finals with St.Peters Colombo. Peterites  were a very tough side and came with their star player Dhamith who is such a classic player and could move shuttle to any part of the court using both his back and forehand strokes. The First match was played  between Damith of St.Peters and Naulika of Richmond. Damith got control of the game right from the beginning using his skills and beat Naulika in two sets. Then Kasun Amarasena showed his colours beating Ptererite no 2 in two straight sets . Pasindu did the same in his single. However , the first double was not favourable for Richmond boys because Damith played an exhibition game keeping his partner at  one corner of the net. Pasindu and Naulika were unable to reach the shuttle most of the time. Skipper Kasun Amarasena came to court with his youngest partner  Duleen.  Duleen played the front half  of the court most of the time allowing Kasun to occupy the  back. Duleen being the lesser known player to outsiders but known by his coach as a player using good techniques and tactics started to attack from  the beginning of the game. Power, skill and experience of Kasun and  well headed Duleen  paved the way for Richmond to qualify for semi finals on Saturday.

Pavithra’s next target was Dharmashoka College Ambalangoda, another leading school which has produced many sporting personalities specially in badminton. Their coach is none other than Mr Subhash who has also won many titles during  his school carrier and a well known shuttler in Sri Lanka. Dharmashoka  came with another classic player Chamika who was the Junior National Champion few  years ago. Naulika in his two sets beat Dharmashoka third player . Kasun did his job well. Chamika did the same for Dharmashoka in his single. At the end of three singles the score card was Richmond 2- Dharmashoka 1.  Third match of the fist doubles game  Naulika  and Pasindu of Richmond were beaten by Dharmashoka . Again Richmondites had to play 2nd single with Dharmasoka. Kasun , the most the most experienced and no 1 player for Richmond came to the nets with his partner Duleen. This pair again demonstrated their skills to the crowdfinishing the match in straight two sets.Again Duleen used his brain giving fullest cooperation to his senior partner, captain Kasun ^.

Sunday Nov 01st 2009 is much awaited day for badminton fans.Richmondites though they did not have many hopes presumed in their minds that Richmond will play in the finals. Their rivals were Ananda College Colombo, defending champions trained  by another veteran Sri Lankan coach Pushpakumara who went for the record in 2008 winning all team championships. He came with Tihan Hewagama  the Junior National Champion for year 2009 who has beaten Kasun Amarasena  during past  two occasions this year.

Cricket is believed to be the most uncertain game as most people believe in. However for spectators who gathered at Richmond College Auditorium  , badminton was  also another game of uncertainty. It was Pasindu the second player of Richmond College who came with an unexpected win, used his racquet to move the shuttle away from Tihan , the best player of Ananda  College giving no chance to him . Unbelivable !!!!!. It is certain that it was an unforgettable match for Pasindu in his life and for most Richmond Badminton enthusiasts. Pushpakumara’s best hope of the title  was finally blown away by the superb play of Pasindu.  For Kasun it was astonishing  because his vice captain did what  he could not do  few months ago. Taking the full advantage of moment , Kasun finished his game beating Ananda captain in two straight sets. For Naulika  it was just a matter of time beating the third player  of Ananda. Richmond won  the championship convincingly to regain the title after 19 years. All due to commitment and dedication of the coach, the players and well directed planning and administration of The Principal MIC and other assisted staff. It is also needed to make note of the RCOBA and Richmond 80-90 Group who have always been behind Richmond Badminton providing various assistance to uplift the game.

Well Done Richmond.

Forgotten Ridee – best of the best

Murali grabs the international award while veteran Jayasuriya is still the ODI best

By Channaka de Silva

Repeatedly ignored by national selectors for long years, the amazingly gifted allrounder Anil Rideegammanagedara received the most fitting tribute for his skills, when he was adjudged the best Sri Lankan cricketer of the year by the people who know best about the game - fellow players.

It was a just reward for years and years of patience, hardwork fighting against the mental agony of being treated indifferently, and Ridee was fighting hard to hide his emotions after being crowned the best among his peers at a glittering ceremony conducted by the Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association at Water’s Edge on Sunday evening.“I am really happy. Elated. Finally I feel as being wanted. I have one thing to say to the whole world. I have not been even considered for an “A” team. I plead to everyone to consider my skills because I know I deserve something after this recognition” said the 30-year old all rounder from Moors.

Ridee who was a star schoolboy cricketer for his school Richmond College, Galle had only once been considered for a Sri Lanka “A” team and that was in 1999. Since then he has always been a star performer for clubs such as Galle CC, Tamil Union, NCC in addition to playing professional cricket for Central Lanacashire in the English cricket league in past six years.

The inaugural awards ceremony held with all the pomp and pageantry to the style of an international event over a banquet dinner coupled with music and dance was sponsored by Nature’s Secret.

Preserving the true class of the event, there were no long speeches or politicians barring Sri Lanka’s world cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunaga who was probably there only as a former cricketer. It was a star gathering of Sri Lanka’s all top cricketers, past and present.

While Ridee was adjudged the cricketer of the year, Muttiah Muralitharan was adjudged the international cricketer of the year for 2006.

At the age of 37, former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya put youngsters to shame by being adjudged the Most Valuable One Day International player of the year and in addition to winning two other awards as the ODI batsman of the year and for the ODI batting Performance of the year, Jayasuriya also graced the stage as the presenter of several awards including the umpire of the year award which went to Gamini Silva.

Muralitharan also received the award as the test bowler of the year and test bowling performance of the year while former Sri Lanka players Lanka de Silva and Sujeewa de Silva grabbed awards as the best domestic batsman and bowler respectively.

Daily Mirror-27th July 2007

More on Anil Rideegammanagedara

Baseball International Championship
Six Richmond College junior baseball players represented  the National under 15 & 17 teams at the  International Baseball Championship  held from 18th to 26th August 2006 at Pescara City Italy.
 

Winners of the Under 18 National Baseball Championship

Seated from left:S.K Sujith Kumara(MIC), H.G Lahiru Rajantha(Captain), Principal Lt.Col. G.V.S.B Shanthasiri, K.K Buddhi Chathuranga(vice captain), Chandima Jayasekera ( Coach)
Standing from left:Udara Achalanka,Chamara Sampath, Gayan Madushanka, Aveendra Wahalabandara, Prasanna Manoj, Nisal Nuwanka, Bodhiguru Bandara, Sameera Ravishan,ThilinaSankalpa, Vishan Amarathunga

Richmond College under 18 Baseball team won the National Baseball Championship recently.Richmond College beat Kingswood College Kanday at Bogambara grounds 17 to 15 to win the title. I .P Sameera Ravishan won the “Best Allrounder” award while Aveendra Wahala Bandara won the award for the best batsman.

Buwaneka Gunathilaka under 13 Champion
36th Junior National Badminton Championship was held at Royal College recently. Buwaneka Gunathilaka of Richmond College won the under 13 Championship.Thaminda Ishan won the under 13 singles 3rd place and 2nd place of under 13 doubles while Menaka Wijerathne won the under 17 singles 2nd place & 3rd place of under 17 doubles with Wahala Bandara

Badminton
Richmond shuttlers won the third place at the Under 16 all Island Badminton Championship held on 25th April 2007 at Bandarawela. D.P Pramith Senevirathene, V.P Thamindu Ishan, Charith Amarasena, Prageeth Sulochana, Buwaneka Gunathilaka and Kasun Amarasena represented theCollege team.

Chess
Richmond College under 15 won the championship at the Southern Province Chess  Championship held at Sangamitta Vidyalaya recently. Richmond College under 19 team also won the third place.

Big Match in Dubai
A friendly match is held every year between old Richmondites & old Mahindians living and working  in Dubai and this year Richmond side won the match. click here to view photographs

Richmond vs Mahinda 102nd Annual Cricket Encounter
Richmond-Mahinda Annual Cricket match which was played on 06th and 07th April 2007 at Matara Uyanwatta Cricket Stadium ended in a draw.Suranga Lakmal took 4 for 54 runs. click here for more with score card>>

Justice Balapatabendi
Yet another Richmondite adorns the High echelons of the Judiciary in Sri Lanka.Richmond has produced other legal luminaries in the past including Ministers of Justice.Justice Jagath de S. Balapatabendi, joins this elite band bringing glory to his alma mater.
Justice Jagath de S. Balapatabendi, had to play second fiddle to his more illustrious brother Sarath, [who shone as a public school athletic champion],. whilst he was at Richmond.
He entered Law College in 1969 and blazed a luminous trail in the Bar, and as a State Counsel, a Magistrate, a District Judge, a High Court Judge, a Judge of the Court of Appeal and as the Court of Appeal President, reaching his current high pedestal as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

“On an occasion of this nature, I am compelled to recall little of my humble past. I had my education at Richmond College, Galle, and entered Law College in 1969’, Justice Balapatadendi recalled in his address at the ceremonial sitting, ‘Finally, I remember with gratitude and respect all my teachers at my alma mater Richmond College, Galle, who guided me in the correct path to achieve this high position, a Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.”
His full address linked from Daily News report
http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/01/18/news21.asp

Hostel Lower Boarding refurbished

Hostel Lower Boarding refurbished
 Lower boarding of the hostel was repaired and   refurbished by the RCOBA sports committee  recently with the intention of providing team members of visiting school of various games with lodging facilities. The boarding with 20 beds, mosquito nets and evry other facility was ceremonially handed over to the College Principal by Mr Thilina Panditharathne on 21st October 2008. The project was successfully organised and launched by Mr L.S.R De Silva, president of the RCOBA Sports Committee. Mr Rohitha Wickramasekera, Mr Shantha Wekunagoda, Mr Lasantha Uralagama, Mr Kosala Senevirathne and many others participated the ceremony.

Science Olympiad 2008 Korea

Mr Premalal Welivitigoda presenting the donation to Lakshitha.The Principal,Mr Thusitha Wijethilake and Lakshitha’s mother Mrs. Malkanthi are also in the picture

International Junior Science Olympiad silver medalist in national level Lakshitha Harith Munasinghe of Richmond College is representing  the Sri Lanka team at IJSO Korea 2008. Mr.U.D Samantha Nandana, Mr. J.W Priyantha , A.J.K Siriwardene, Mr. H.W Jagath Rohana, Mr. Ruwan Premadasa and Mr. Premalal Welivitigoda collectively donated Rs 32,500.00 to Lakshitha to cover his air ticket cost.

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