The island nation’s most anticipated girls’ water polo encounter is back as the waters of Sugathadasa Swimming Complex will come to life as Ladies’ College take on Visakha Vidyalaya today (3).

The main event, the M.N. Edussuriya Trophy (Senior) under-19 encounter, is set to get underway at 4 p.m. 

The trophy is named in honour of M.N. Edussuriya who served as the Principal of Visakha Vidyalaya from January 1988 to October 1999, a period where her vision and dedicated service for over a decade put Visakha on the pinnacle. The under-15 encounter played for the Gunawardana Challenge Trophy will commence at 2 p.m.

In 2018, Ladies’ College won the senior trophy after ending a superlative seven-year unbeaten run of Visakha, which began in 2011.

After their back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019, LCites were defeated at last year’s (2022) main showdown, as the under-19 encounter was clinched by Visakha led by Siyara Mannapperuma, who beat a gritty Ladies’ outfit led by Rahell Dias, in a keenly contested game, 17-13. The under-15 game ended in an exciting 11-11 draw with the Visakhians retaining the trophy.

Visakha is getting into the fray this year as favourites who’ve won all their games in 2022, winning the Sri Lanka National Championship beating OTSC B 21-8 and the Schools’ Water Polo Championship beating Bishop’s College 5-3. The junior Visakhians won the Junior National Championship in a thumping 21-01 win against Bishop’s College. However, the Ladies’ College outfit cannot be written off as they are set to give it their all in this year’s encounter to regain the glory days with last year’s valiant performance showcasing a living testament of their prowess in the waters. 

The 2020 and 2021 editions were not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This eagerly awaited encounter was inaugurated in 2004 with Thanuja Fernando captaining Ladies’ College and Harshani Warnapura captaining Visakha Vidyalaya. The encounter was a memorable one to everyone which ended in a pulsating draw. 

In 2005, Ladies’ College, led by Meneka Mendis, won their maiden senior trophy but the glory was short-lived with Visakha, under the captaincy of Shahil Gomez, snatched victory in 2006 and retained by Lukshani Rathnayake’s victorious outfit in 2007 to safeguard the silverware at Vajira Road. Ladies’ College’s back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 are the best record for the Flower Road team. 

Visakha leads the trophy tally with 11 wins and Ladies’ with 5. 

Captains this year (2023) – U19

Visakha Vidyalaya 

Divya Aluthgama – Captain

Thurushka Hettigama – Vice Captain

Ladies’ College

Kiyasha Kurukulasuriya – Captain

Aneeka Sumanatilleke – Vice Captain

Karishma Hewavisenti – Vice Captain

LC-VV water polo – past winners (U19)

Year        Winner

2004        Draw

2005        Ladies’

2006        Visakha

2007        Visakha

2008        Ladies’

2009        Visakha

2010        Ladies’     

2011        Visakha         

2012        Visakha

2013        Visakha   

2014        Visakha

2015        Visakha    

2016        Visakha  

2017        Visakha  

2018        Ladies’     

2019        Ladies’       

2020        Not held   

2021        Not held  

2022        Visakha