Swimming

Swimming at S. Thomas’ Preparatory School began in 1938 with the participation of just a few students. Back then, practices took place every week at the S. Thomas’ College pool in Mount Lavinia. In 1947, swimming at Prep had grown to such a level that the school received a wonderful opportunity to be coached under Mr. Harry Nightingale. On the 11th of November in 1949, the Inter-House Swimming Gala was introduced and saw the participation of many students under the original houses (Lincoln, York, Canterbury and Norwich). In 1976, the first Inter-House Swimming meet was held under the current house system (Abeynaike, Carpenter-Garnier, De Saram and Keble).

The practice schedule for swimming is as follows:

Squad Practices

Venue   – Otters Aquatic Club Swimming Pool

Days    – Every Monday and Friday

Time    – 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

Beginners’ Swimming Practices

Venue   – Ladies’ College Pool

Day        – Saturday

Time      – 2.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

The swimmers are coached under Mr. S.H.M.S. Sumith Dharmadasa and Mr. Philip Ameresinghe. The Teacher-In-Charge of Swimming is Mr. B.G. Buddhika Madhusanka.

Noteworthy Achievements
  • S. Dias represented Sri Lanka at the 9th Asia Pacific Group Swimming & Diving Championships.
  • In 2007, A.A. Fernandez was placed 3rd in the 50 m free style event at the Schools’ National Age Group Swimming Championships and 4th in the same event at the Sri Lanka Schools’ Meet, Junior National Meet and the South Asia Federation Games Trials.
  • In 2008, A.A. Fernandez was placed 2nd in the 50 m free style event at the Schools’ National Age Group Swimming Championships and the South Asia Federation Games Trials.
  • In 2016, R.J.A. Fonseka was placed 1st in the Under-15, 50 m Butterfly event at the National Intermediate Age Group Swimming Championships.
  • In 2016, A.K.V. Nethaka was placed 3rd in the Pentathlon Swimming Championships and 3rd in the 50 m Backstroke as well as 200 m Individual Medley events at the National Age Group Swimming Championships.
  • In 2016, Kavindra Nugawela represented Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games and won a Silver medal in the 200 m Backstroke event. He also represented the country at the South Asian Group Championships and won two Gold medals and a Silver medal. He was also placed 1st in the Under-17, 200 m Backstroke event at the 43rd Sri Lanka Schools’ Aquatic Sports Championships.
  • In 2017, A.K.V. Nethaka was placed in the 400 m Individual Medley, 200 m Individual Medley, 100 m and 200 m Butterfly events at the National Intermediate Group Swimming Championships.
  • In 2019, A.K.V. Nethaka was placed 3rd (Bronze Medal) in the 400 m and 200 m Free Style events at the 46th Annual Sri Lanka Schools All Island Age Group Aquatic Championships.
  •  In 2022,  Amitesha Sentitcumaran won 1st Place (Gold medal) in the Under 18 Age Group 50 m Backstroke event and  Atesha Sentitcumaran came in 2nd (Silver medal) in the Under 18 Age Group 50 m Freestyle at the 14th Annual Sri Lanka Schools All Island Age Group Novices Aquatic Championship.