• National team ranks 1st out of over 80 countries after preliminary rounds
• Records best result in country’s debating history

Sri Lanka’s National Schools Debating Team delivered the finest performance in the country’s history at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC), the largest and most prestigious debating competition for secondary school students in the world.

At WSDC 2026, held in Nairobi, Kenya from 14–24 July with more than 700 students, coaches, and judges from over 80 countries, the Sri Lankan team won seven of its eight preliminary debates and ranked first overall after the preliminary rounds – the highest ranking a Sri Lankan team has ever achieved at the tournament, and the first time a Sri Lankan team has topped the preliminary standings altogether. The team progressed until the Double Octofinals afterwards.

This result surpasses the country’s previous record in the preliminary rounds of WSDC, which was fourth place in 2023, a particularly impressive feat given the rapidly expanding level of international competition. The achievement reinforces Sri Lanka’s standing on the global stage and sets a strong benchmark for future teams.

At this year’s championship, the Sri Lankan team faced some of the strongest debating nations in the world, including the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, and New Zealand. Across eight preliminary debates, they tackled an extraordinary range of topics, from the role of sport in society to global politics, economic policy, and international affairs. Each debate demanded comprehensive knowledge and the ability to present clear and convincing arguments before international judging panels.

“Placing first in the world after the preliminary rounds is a special result for Sri Lanka. It really shows how much talent and hard work allows a small, non-English speaking nation to compete and win against the best. The country should be proud of what they’ve achieved on the world stage,” said 2026 National Team Coach Shalem Sumanthiran.

Individual honours

The team’s success was matched by outstanding individual results.

Individually, Savith Wijesundara (Elizabeth Moir School) finished fourth Best Speaker in the world and first in the English as a Second Language (ESL) category – another national first – while Rudhesh Ram (Colombo International School) placed seventh Best Speaker in the world, and Adam Dhilshan (Royal College) was ranked sixth Best ESL Speaker.

A rigorous, year-long selection process

Representing Sri Lanka at WSDC is the product of a demanding, year-long process overseen by the Debaters’ Council of Sri Lanka, the organisation that administers the national schools debating circuit.

Debaters take part in more than 15 Debaters’ Council-endorsed tournaments annually, before applications for the National Pool are opened. From that pool, candidates go through training and trial rounds before the final team of five is selected.

This year’s team – Savith Wijesundara, Rudhesh Ram, Adam Dhilshan, T. Tharaniharan (Royal College), and Apoorva Jinadasa (Hillwood College) – was coached by Shalem Sumanthiran, Sachin Tissera, and Kavindra Senaratna.

Champions, self-funded

Unlike many of the national teams Sri Lanka competed against – several of which receive substantial government backing – Sri Lanka’s team is funded jointly by the Debaters’ Council of Sri Lanka and by the families of the five students selected.

The Debaters’ Council’s primary source of funding for the national team is the South Asian Schools Debating Championship (SASDC), an online international tournament it organises entirely through volunteer effort. Coaching, travel, accommodation, and tournament fees for the national team are otherwise covered out of pocket by parents.

“This team’s achievement reflects the growing standard of our local debating circuit. We hope that it not only empowers the next generation of budding debaters, but that it will also bring in greater public and institutional support for debating nationwide,” said Debaters’ Council of Sri Lanka President Daniel Victor.

The Sri Lankan National Debating Team at the opening ceremony of the WSDC in Nairobi, Kenya. From left: Rudhesh Ram, Savith Wijesundara, Apoorva Jinadasa, Adam Dhilshan, and T. Tharaniharan

Sri Lankan National Team member Adam Dhilshan delivers his speech during a debate round at the WSDC