St. Joseph’s College Honouring Mammoth Total Of Achievers In Sports

The Annual Colours Day of St. Joseph’s College, titled ‘2019 to 2022 Courage, Quadrennial Sports Awards Ceremony’ to honour the Josephians who excelled in sports, was held recently at the Rev. Fr. Dr. Stanley Abeysekara Sports Complex, recently.
A distinguished old Josephian, veteran world class player and Sri Lankan Cricketer, Chaminda Vaas, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Vaas was a member of the Sri Lankan team that won the Cricket World Cup in 1996 and he is the only bowler to take an 8 wicket haul in ODI’s. At present, he has been appointed as a bowling coach for various teams, including the Sri Lankan National Team. He has significantly contributed to developing young bowlers and franchise cricket. 
During his speech, he conveyed the following message to the young Josephians: ‘In order to move forward and reach the pinnacle of success in sports, you need to be courageous and work laboriously, with dedication and determination.’ His message for the parents of the young Josephians was to encourage their children to participate in sports and not force them to participate and not to interfere with their sports activities in order to evolve independently.Vaas, fondly recalled his golden memories of playing for St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 and with his elephantine memory he could remember all the school matches that he played and in particular the first match that was played in 1990’s.

Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, the Chief Shepherd, Rector and Principal of St. Joseph’s College, during his speech appreciated and admired the illustrious career and remarkable achievements made by Chaminda Vaas, on the cricket field that have brought immense pride to St. Joseph’s College and have made an indelible mark on the history of Sri Lankan Cricket. His dedication, skills and sportsmanship have earned him a well deserved place among the cricketing greats and his record breaking performances and ability to inspire his team mates have played a pivotal role for many Sri Lankan Triumphs on the international cricket stage. Furthermore, Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, the Rector and Principal, appreciated Chaminda Vaas’s contributions that extend beyond the cricket field. As a mentor, coach and ambassador for the sport, he has continued to inspire and guide the next generation of cricketers. His commitment to nurturing young talent and giving back to the community reflects his deep passion for the game and his unwavering belief in its “power to transform lives”.St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, has been the undisputed Champions, in Swimming, Cricket, Basketball, Soccer and Badminton and has done exceptionally well in Athletics, Rugby, Hockey, Tennis and other key sports. This dominance in these sports, is a clear reflection of the profound ethos we maintain at St. Joseph’s. By providing the necessary facilities and expertise to compete at the highest level, we inculcate discipline, the right values and positive attitudes in our students.At St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, we invest heavily in sports, because we firmly believe in the educational value. For many decades, our college has taken the initiative to provide facilities and opportunities for students to harness their God-given talents. We are committed to offering extensive resources and access to modern techniques to help them overcome their limitations. Participation in sports builds individuals for the future, equipping them with the skills and attitudes needed to navigate today’s complex world. This foundation enables our students to meet challenges and thrive in any circumstances.
 The Josephian award winners indeed have brought glory and honour to their Alma Mater with their glorious achievements during 2019 to 2022 (4 years). An astouding record of over 500 Josephians including, 228 Josephian Coloursmen and 48 Josephians who represented Sri Lanka in various Sports and 23 Josephians who have won the most prestigious and highest award for a Josephian achiever, ‘ JOSEPHIAN BLUE’, and 269 Merit award winners were honoured on that day. Sportsmen of the Year, Dishane Ranaweera (Swimming), 2019, Shenal Sandesh (Football), Shehan Fernando (Basketball), 2021 and Dunith Wellalage (Cricket), 2022.