Sri Lankan showjumpers to compete in India

Vishwa Premalal and Rashmin de Silva

For the first time ever, there will be two riders from Sri Lanka competing internationally in a showjumping competition at Bangalore’s Embassy International Riding School’s (EIRS) ‘Equestrian Premier League Grand Finale’ on November 21 in Bengaluru, India. 

Both riders are members of the Ceylon Riding Club (CRC), Port City and have been trained in Sri Lanka. This signifies a re-emergence of Sri Lanka on the international equestrian circuit after a gap of several years.

Riders, Vishwa Rashmika Premalal and Rashmin Tiremanne de Silva will be competing on behalf of the CRC at the upcoming event. 

This will be the first international competition for Vishwa, wheras Rashmin has previously competed in France and India. 

Following in the footsteps of Mohan de Lanerolle who competed in India in 2001, it is a great honour for these young talented riders to be invited to participate in this event.

This groundbreaking event marks the strengthening of an alliance between the CRC and the EIRS following a visit of Dr. Ineke Ann Pitts to Bangalore last month. 

“We have a lot to learn from the EIRS,” Dr. Pitts stated, “and we also have a lot in common. We are very excited at the opportunity that this creates for our young riders to take part in competitions, since there is no competition circuit available in Sri Lanka.”

Vishwa, (23) schooled at OKI international School, Colombo and is an instructor at the CRC. He and Rashmin, a seasoned competitor, will be competing in November against the best of Indian showjumping horses and talent. 

The EIRS recently celebrated 25 years of developing equestrian sports in India under the passionate patronage of Chairman and Managing Director Jitu Virwani and Director, Silva Storai. 
One of their riders, Fouaad Mirza competed in the 2021 Olympics and they are one of the premier equestrian clubs in Asia.

The CRC was founded in 2017 by Dr. Ann Pitts and is now based in Port City Colombo. CRC specialises in teaching horsemanship and riding skills to young people and adults from beginner to advanced level. 

CRC has 13 beautifully trained horses and ponies and around 250 members. They will be holding their next horse show in Port City on November 30.