Response to facebook criticisms over Mahamaya girls' medals

Response to facebook criticisms over Mahamaya girls' medals

A series of photographs of schoolgirls dressed in a manner flaunting their medals was circulating around in the internet during the past few days. These schoolgirls who won these medals because of their skills in swimming at Kandy Mahamaya Girls' College became a matter of humour for some people.  A question was posed as to how this number of medals could be secured by each of them in just one colours night.

Most of those who saw these photographs which were being exchanged here and there had no proper idea of details about those photos or understanding. However, the girls had come before the media to

reveal the true state of affairs in this connection. These schoolgirls who engage in swimming at Kandy Mahamaya Girls' College are those who dedicated themselves with tiresome efforts, expressing their self-confidence striving to radiate the brilliance of their school Mahamaya. They had on that day worn medals which they had acquired from childhood for skills in swimming.

It is in fact this school that has displayed the greatest talent in the field of swimming. Kandy Mahamaya Girls' College has been able to win the all-island swimming championships right throughout the last twenty years.

This is how Mr. Sudath Uyanhewa, chief swimming coach of Mahamaya Girls' College expressed his opinion: "I function as the swimming coach of Mahamaya Girls' College for the last nineteen years. A number of talented girls emerged from this school. They are girls who created records both on an international level as well as at a national level. All four girls Nisali Dissanayaka, Vinoli Siriwardena, Thilini Tennakoon and Keshani Konesharaj who were subjected to a dialogue over the internet this week are girls who participated in competitions at international level. Nethuni de Silva who is among the four of them is a girl who displayed skills in national competitions on a national level too. About 80 junior and senior girls have shown skills to bring repute to the school.

Girls of Mahamaya Girls have been capable in clinching the all-island swimming championship for a continuous period of twenty years. It is with the medals in their homes that they secured with great effort they are able to show their skills. It is therefore these same medals that they could come adorned with on colours night ... to show their pride. When one sees them juniors are further motivated. That motivation is important in creating other girls of a similar level. Actually unless one goes to their homes it will not be possible to even have a glimpse of medals they had won. So whatever goes over facebook, what is displayed nothing but the skills of these girls".

This is what swimmer Nisali Dissanayaka says in this connection: "I studied upto grade seven from grade one at Hillwood. I came first in Sri Lanka in the breast stroke contest when I was 7 years old. For that very reason alone the then Mahamaya Girls' College lady principal I. Withaanachchi took me to her school. From then onwards under the present lady principal madam Himali Senadheera we were able to show our exploits.

I was even selected to attend swimming meets at SAARC championships when I was in grade nine. I won the bronze medal in the 2016 South Asian Tournament having competed with six countries. Even back in Sri Lanka I managed to win seven championships. In the same way it was because of our dedication that we were able to achieve first, second and third place in all-island competitions from the time we were in second grade. We used to practise from 4.30 early morning and undergo training till 8 - 9. It was those medals we acquired as a result of such efforts we were wearing. By now I have won about three hundred medals".