Celebrating our Champions: The Foundation of Goodness Sports Academy Felicitates Successful Sports men and women.

For many years the Foundation of Goodness has given emphasis towards enhancing and fostering sports skills and talent. The Sports Academy in Seenigama has offered a multitude of sports programs, coaching camps, clinics, and various forms of support such as equipment donations and the establishment of sports facilities. It is the core mission of the Foundation of Goodness to offer top-notch training, mentoring, and facilities to aspiring athletes, regardless of their urban or rural background to tap into sporting potential that is left undiscovered due to the lack of adequate facilities and opportunities. 

The past few months had seen a wave of victories for our bright young sports stars in Cricket, Swimming and Badminton, locally and internationally. To honor these players, their hard work, commitment towards their success in their respective sports, the Sports Academy held a felicitation ceremony for the sportsman and their coaches, at the OYOB Centre in Seenigama on the 18th of June 2023. 

First up, was the International Cricket Academy League (ICAL) 2023 held in New Delhi from the 2nd to 12th April 2023, which saw the Foundation of Goodness cricket team captained by Dharshaka Sandeep (C) and vice-captained by Dasun Chamod (VC) emerge victorious as the U17 champions. The team clinched their victory in a nail biting final where they defeated the Indian Lakshya Cricket Academy by 07 wickets. The final match was a thrilling contest after a series of fiercely competitive matches in the preliminary rounds where our boys’ beat teams from Australia, South Africa and Dubai. Dharshaka Sandeep was awarded the Player of the Match award, Dasun Chamod took home the Player of the Tournament award, Seniru Ninduwara secured the Bowler of the Tournament award and Vinod Danushka was adjudged Player of the Match. The coaches Dinesh Kumara were also felicitated at the ceremony. 

The 15 member ICAL 2023 winning cricket comprised of the following players.  

1. Dharshaka Sandeep(Devapathiraja College-Rathgama) – Captain
2. Dasun Chamod(Vidyaloka College-Galle) – Vice Captain
3. Vinod Danushka(Sri Sumangala College-Hikkaduwa) 
4. Ransara Deshan (Sri Sumangala College – Hikkaduwa)
5. Gimhan Rasanjana (Devapathiraja College – Rathgama)
6. Jithira Sansika(Dharmasoka College-Ambalangoda)
7. Seniru Ninduwara(Vidyaloka College-Galle)
8.  Lidula Nuwanga(Vidyaloka College-Galle)
9. Sumedha Sampath(Madampagama Central College-Madampagama)
10. Shehan Madushanka(Revata College-Balapitiya)
11. Malith Mihiranga(Revata College-Balapitiya)
12. Thanush Viduranga(Devapathiraja College-Rathgama)
13. Chamathka Kavishan(Sri Sumangala College-Hikkaduwa)
14. Kaveesha Sandaruwan(Sri Sumangala College-Hikkaduwa)
15. Manasa Pawarinda(Dharmasoka College-Ambalangoda)

Next was the 15th Annual Sri Lanka Schools All Island Age Group Novices Aquatic Championships 2023, which was held from 23rd to the 26th February 2023 at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex. 2165 top competitors from 171 schools around Sri Lanka participated in this year’s novices swimming championships and the competition was held under six age groups under 10, under 12, under 14, under 16, under 18, and 20. This year the Foundation of Goodness Boys Team Emerged Overall Champions of the competition despite facing intense competition, with 95 points in total.  The Seenigama girls team from the Seenigama Aquatic Club also made a splash at the Intermediate Age Group Swimming Championships 2023, held on the 12th May to the 14th of May 2023 at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Complex. The girls team put up an impressive fight and was placed runners-up at the competition. 

Special mention must be made of the Gavesh Isuranga who was awarded U-20 Boys Champion at the All-Island Age Group Novices Aquatic Championships, Bhanul Dighayu Gunewardena who placed first at the 50m and 100m Backstroke at the All Island Age Group Novices Aquatic Championships as well as the National Age Group Championships 2023 and also Dilsha Vinodani who won the award for overall U20 girls champion.

The event also facilitated the hardworking and dedicated swimming Coaches, P. B. Kulweera, Nayomi Wijerathne and S. N. Sanjeewa, for their tireless effort and passion to fostering a team of champions. 

All Island Age Group Novices Aquatic Championships Boys team – Winners

1. Senuth Nimsara 
2. Thewsara Sasmitha 
3. Masith Gimhan 
4. Maneth Mendis 
5. Matheesha Ranathilake 
6. Gavesh Isuranga 
7. Danujith Yasintha 
8. Chathuka Dinethma 
9. Bhanul Dighayu Gunewardena 
10. Akinda Arunalu 
11. Sadew Pehesara 
12. Minidu Pankaja 
13. Sandalu Yasintha 
14. Maneth Abhimal 
15. Isuru Sampath

National Age Group Championships 2023 Girls Team – Runners Up

1. Udani Sidangana 
2. Vidushi Dahamsa 
3. Tharindi Damsarani 
4. Jeyadi Thathsarindi 
5. Isara Umangi 
6. Hasheni Dinara 
7. Chanugi Omalya 
8. Dimagi Samanga 
9. Dilsha Vinodani 
10. Risindi Gayansa 
11. Rishini Theekshana

We also honored our Table Tennis players who also bagged multiple medals at the South Asia Youth TT Championship held in India, in May 2023. Their dedicated coach Mr. Chaminda Roshan who put in many hours of commitment and training to make sure that these wins were possible, was also felicitated at the event. 

The team comprised of; 

Diwya Darani Chandraguptha: 
U19 Girls Team event – Silver medal 

Mixed Double Event – Bronze medal 

Girls Doubles – Bronze medal 

Lesanya Sithumadee:
U19 Girls Team event – Silver medal 

Girls Doubles – Bronze medal 

Nadithi Rehansa:
U19 Girls Team event – Silver medal 

Gesandu Helith:
U19 Boys Team event – Silver medal

On a final note, a special mention must be made of our very own Director of Sports Anura De Silva, who has been a visionary in sports, that help empower rural youth to realize their dreams. Through his leadership, he provides equal opportunities and fosters talent, through his unwavering dedication to transform these young athletes, and turning them into champions, while inspiring communities to invest in rural talent.

“The girls and boys of the Foundation of Goodness sports academy have done splendidly over the past few months in cricket, swimming and table tennis. This has been a great period for sports in general for the Foundation of Goodness and an eye opener for sports girls and boys to come over here to our foundation, to train or coach or do anything with our sports girls and boys. We also invite volunteers to come and share knowledge and experience in any sport or even physical trainings and mental fitness, basically anything that they would like to do. They are most welcome to come to the Foundation of Goodness Sports Facility in Seenigama.”