Isipathana College gets Henry Pedris Stadium

Friday, 25 November 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Henry Pedris Stadium, which was under the administration of the Colombo Municipal Council, was handed over to Isipathana College yesterday at a ceremony held at Temple Trees, under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Faiszer Musthapha, Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekara, Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Secretary to the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government Kamal Padmasiri and officers of the Ministry, Colombo Municipal Commissioner V.K. Anura, and officers of the CMC, the Principal of Isipathana Premasiri Epa and members from the Old Boys’ Association of Isipathana were present at the ceremony.

Minister Faiszer Musthapha took steps to hand over Henry Pedris Stadium to Isipathana College on the directions of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe following a request made by the Principal of Isipathana and the school’s Old Boys’ Association.

Epa said that gaining a stadium was a landmark event in the school’s 64-year history.

The administration, maintenance and development activities of the stadium, which were carried out by the CMC, will henceforth be handled by both the CMC and school according to an MOU signed between the two parties.

Principal Epa stated that there were about 5,000 students at the school at present. Until now the school had rented out grounds to engage in their sports activities. The school’s principal said that about half of the Sri Lankan rugby team was selected from Isipathana for a long time. Isipathana won the Presidential Championship Rugby Tournament and Milo Championship Rugby Tournament in 2016. He further stated that there were three players from the school in the Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team. The most popular and best cricketers of 2016 were also from Isipathana, he asserted.