- Old Nalandians’ Sports Club marshalls Nalanda sports towards centenary
Nalanda College, Colombo will be celebrating its centenary year in 2025 and its alumni are gearing up for the big event with an array of sublime events and sporting activities to give back in the best way possible to their alma mater.
Having had its humble beginnings with the righteous guidance of the likes of illustrious P. de. S Kularatne and L.H. Meththananda, the school at the picturesque Campbell Place is gifted today with an untiring alumni of the Old Nalandians’ Sports Club, now almost at 60 years of service to the college.
In preparation for the grandest event organised in its annual calendar, the ‘Maroons’ Nite Dinner Dance,’ the Old Nalandians’ Sports Club (ONSC) hosted a grand event launch, media briefing, and a felicitation of sponsors of ‘Maroons’ Nite 2023’ at the Cinnamon Grand on 10 October. The event was also attended by Nalanda College Principal Iran Champika Silva.
Headed by President Dinuka Chandraratne, the ONSC has big plans to unleash a new era of Nalanda’s sporting prowess, including:
- The plan for a fully-equipped gymnasium, while further developing it to a sports centre for all indoor sports under one roof
- A ‘Centennial Sports Carnival’ – an invitational schools’ tourney with almost 40 sporting events to be held from 2024-2025
- Development of a sports policy for Nalanda College, targeting every sport with strategic and technical planning
The ONSC is amongst the three most prominent OBA bodies of Nalanda, which has dedicated itself to developing and nurturing sports and sportsmen as well as the school’s sporting fields.
Nalanda is also home to a high-tech Sports Strategy Development Centre, a first of its kind for Sri Lankan schools, and a modern basketball arena with floodlights, back stoppers, etc., all thanks to ONSC’s many projects in the past.
The prime fundraiser for the club activities, the ‘Maroons’ Nite’ is tipped to be a sold-out event with over 400 participants set to rock and roll amidst the musical extravaganza featuring Billy Fernando with 2FORTY2 and Redeemers with the evergreen Faizal Bongso as compere.
The ONSC has secured over 35 corporate sponsors for ‘Maroons’ Nite 2023,’ marking the first time in its history to achieve such a sponsorship milestone. According to the organisers, this unprecedented support ensures that the traditional annual Nalanda dinner dance will reach new levels of grandeur and entertainment, promising an unforgettable celebration at Waters Edge on 25 November, while being a perfect foundation to garner support and raise funds to support sports at Nalanda.
- ONSC Ex-Officio: President Dinuka Chandraratne, General Secretary Charith Sooriyabandara, and Treasurer Chirath Samarasekara.
- ‘Maroons’ Nite’ Committee: Chairman Priyantha Dassanayake, Head of Sponsorships Charith Kamaladasa, and Head of Events Chaminda Hirimuthugodage.