The 48th All Island Milo Schools Swimming and Diving Championship conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Association and sponsored by Nestle Lanka Ltd for the 29th year is scheduled to be held from August 23 to 28 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium swimming pool.

The six-day championship will see events being held for age groups in the Under 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 of both boys’ and girls’ categories.

The organizers will be conducting 164 events in these two categories comprising 140 individual and 24 relay events which will have participation of nearly 5000 boys and girls around the island. “We are again proud to give a supporting hand for another important sports event for up-and-coming youngsters,’’ Bandula Egodage, the Vice President of Nestle Lanka, said briefing the media.

He further stated that this is one of the important and prominent schools swimming events conducted with Milo support and it’s a stepping-stone for the talented youngsters to showcase their talent to achieve greater heights in the future.

Entries for the individual events have been received from 138 boys schools, 68 girls schools and 54 mixed schools and the schools representing the provinces are from Western Province (92), Southern Province (51), Central Province (38), Sabaragamuwa Province (21), Uva Province (16), Wayamba Province (14), North Central Province (19), Eastern Province (6) and Northern Province (2).

The entries for the relay events have been received from 280 boys and 190 girls and for the diving events entries have been received from 274 boys and 110 girls comprising 15 boys schools, seven girls schools and three mixed schools. The Diving Championship will be conducted in the age groups of Under 12, 14, 16 and 18 with 36 events being scheduled to be worked off.

Defending champions St. Joseph’s Colombo and Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo will be seeking to retain the championship title with St. Joseph’s are aiming for the 19th successive title while Visakha their third consecutive win.

Lyceum International School Wattala will also be seeking to retain the Mixed Schools title for the third successive year. Royal Colombo and Bishops College emerged Diving Age Group champions.

The closing ceremony will be held on August 28 with Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education, gracing the occasion as the chief guest while M.N. Ranasinghe, Secretary Minister of Education as guest of honour. (M. Shamil Amit)