Saturday Nov 29, 2025
Saturday Nov 29, 2025
Saturday, 30 August 2025 01:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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| Royal Captain Methvan Wijemanne |
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| S Thomas Captain Shaveen Nanayakkara |
The much-anticipated Royal-Thomian Tennis Encounter returns for its 23rd edition today at 6 p.m., with Royal College, Colombo set to host S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia under lights at the P. Nagendran Tennis Complex.
The prestigious E.F.C. Pereira Challenge Trophy, named in honour of the revered teacher who served both schools for nearly four decades, will once again be at stake. The junior matches are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Royal College currently leads the overall series 13-5, but the Thomians will enter this year’s encounter with renewed confidence after their memorable 3-1 victory in 2024 on home soil in Mount Lavinia.
This year’s battle will be contested in the under-20 age group and will follow the traditional format of three singles and two doubles ties. Both sides are evenly matched, setting the stage for an evening of fiercely competitive tennis.
Royal College will be spearheaded by Methvan Wijemanne, who is coming off a remarkable showing at the Sri Lanka Under-18 National Championships, where he clinched both the singles and doubles titles. He will be supported by Renouk Wijemanne, a former Davis Cup player and past coach of the Sri Lanka Davis Cup team, alongside Ruwan Fernando.
The Thomians will be led by captain Shaveen Nanayakkara, with guidance from Sankha Athukorala, the current Sri Lanka Davis Cup head coach. Buoyed by last year’s triumph, the Mount Lavinia boys will be eager to replicate their winning formula and narrow the overall gap.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, this year’s Chief Guest will be Dyan Peries, who captained the Royal College tennis team in 1965. His presence will not only inspire the players but also pay tribute to the enduring legacy of this storied encounter.
Royal College Union Lawn Tennis Club Chairman Somanath Fernando said: “We are honoured to host the Thomians for the annual Tennis Battle of the Blues encounter this year. We look forward to some good tennis.”
He also expressed gratitude to the event’s sponsors, noting: “We are very grateful to Cargills Ceylon PLC, Lyceum Campus and Lyceum Placements for their generous sponsorship, which continues to support the growth of the sport.”
With national-level talent on display and school pride at stake, the 2025 Royal-Thomian Tennis Encounter promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated inter-school rivalries.
