26th September 2021 19:49:42 Hours
Sports competitions are held all over the world to enhance teamwork, cooperation and coordination among sports personnel. Learning these skills helps the participants in their life and professional careers. The Sri Lanka Military Academy conducts the inter company sports meet annually in order to test the sportsmanship, leadership skills of trainee Officer Cadets and their capabilities in organizing competitions. The Opening Ceremony of the Inter Company Sports Meet - 2021 was held on 24 September at the Polo Ground which was graced by the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Brigadier WWHRRVDKB Niyangoda RWP RSP USP ndu psc as the Chief Guest. Competitors of Intake 89, 90, 89B, Lady 17 (V), 60(V) and 91 representing their respective Companies took part enthusiastically in field and track events to make their Company to the Champion Company of the Inter Company Sports Meet - 2021.
Parallel to the sports meet, the Inter Company Swimming Meet - 2021 was also held at the Academy Swimming Pool on 26 September with the participation of the Commandant-SLMA as the Chief Guest and Madam Himali Niyangoda along with other officers’ spouses also graced the occasion. The event caught the attention of the spectators with the adventurous Welcome Jumps from 10 and16ft platforms, Life Saving Demonstration and Water Ballet. After neck and neck competitions, L/O/Cdt DRAPJ Ranasinghe of Gannoruwa Company became the Best Female Swimmer while Cdt Cpl KKDR Praveen of Randeniwela Company emerged the Best Swimmer (Male). Finally, having obtained 3 Golds, 5 Silvers and 5 Bronzes, the Trophy for the Runner up was bagged by Vijithapura Company. The Champion Company of the Inter Company Swimming Competition was the Gannoruwa Company by possessing 4 Golds, 4 Silvers and 6 Bronzes.
The Closing Ceremony was another attraction of the Inter Company Sports Meet - 2021 of which the glamour was intensified by a well-organized and synchronized PT Display by a team of Officer Cadets along with PTIs and Show Jumping by the Equestrian Section of the Academy. Interestingly, the Company Houses architected by Officer Cadets over night were inspected from the eyes of feminine judges (spouses of senior officers) along with a panel of SLMA senior officers to select the Best Decorated House. Finally, the house of Vijithapura Company was chosen as the Best Decorated House of the Inter Company Sports Competition - 2021. The Inter Wing Relayand Civilian Staff Relay had been accommodated in the sports meet programme to showcase the sportsmanship of the Academy staff.
Having very tight and close encounters among the competitors of the Four Companies, L/O/Cdt MALH Silva of Gannoruwa Company claimed the Trophy for the Best Athlete (female) and O/Cdt JAR Perera of Randeniwela Company was awarded with the Trophy for the Best Athlete (Male). The much-awaited moment of the presentation of the Trophy to the Champion Company of the Inter Company Sports Meet - 2021 was triumphantly bagged by the Gannoruwa Company.
At the presentation, the contribution of the PTIs and the Equestrian Section to the Sports Meet was admired with tokens of appreciations by the Chief Guest. The ceremony marked its culmination with the declaration of the Inter Company Sports Meet -2021 close by the Commandant.
