Building teamwork, discipline, and the Prepite spirit — in the sunshine and in the rain.
Sport is central to life at S. Thomas’ Preparatory School. As our school song puts it — “for the games we play together, play with vim in the sunshine bright, nor less in the rainy weather.” Boys compete across a wide range of sports, building fitness, character, and lasting friendships.
Select a sport to read its history, achievements and Teacher(s)-in-Charge.
A proud Prepite tradition since 1938 — teaching patience, teamwork and fair play.
Cricket was one of the first sports started when the school was founded in 1938.
Noteworthy achievements: Under 13 Division 2 Champions at the Singer Schools Cricket Tournament (1982); Champions at the inaugural N. Mylvaganam Challenge Shield Encounter against St. John’s College, Jaffna (U17, 2017); and Under 13 Division 2 Champions again in 2018/2019 after 36 years.
Teacher-in-Charge: Mr. M.M.S. Mazeen.
Courage, discipline and teamwork on the field, across every age group.
Rugby Football was introduced in 1976 under then-Headmaster Mr. J.S.L. Fernando, with Mr. Mohideen A. Cader as Master-in-Charge and rugby stalwarts Mr. N. Sunderalingam, Mr. D. Almeida, Mr. Q. Israel and Rev. Chickera among the early coaching staff. The school began with the Under-15 category, added Under-13 in 1979, and is now represented at Under-16, -14, -12 and -10. In 2015, Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo initiated an Annual Rugby Encounter against brother school S. Thomas’ College, Guruthalawa (Under-16) for the W. T. Keble Shield, with an Under-14 exhibition match added in 2017. The first Inter-House Rugby Tournament was held in 1978.
Noteworthy achievements: Bowl Segment Runners-Up (U13, 1994 & 1995); FedEx Provincial Bowl Champions (U15, 1999); All Island Plate Champions (U13, 2000); All Island Shield Champions (U14, 2006); HARFA Cup Champions (U14, 2015 & 2019); All Island Cup Champions Division II (U14: 2015 & 2017; U16: 2019); W.T. Keble Shield Encounter Champions (U16, 2015–19); and many more across segments.
Teachers-in-Charge: Mr. T. Ramesh; Mr. Chathuranga Kariyawasam.
Fast, competitive team play that builds fitness and a winning spirit.
The first football match of Prep School was played in 1938 against Winchester House of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, with victory over the same opponent in 1939 and a winning match against S. Thomas’ College, Guruthalawa in 1942. Football has been one of the leading sports since inception.
Notable achievements: Semi-Finals of the Colombo District Football Tournament (1982); Quarter-Finals of the Sri Lanka Football Association Tournament (1984); Semi-Finals of the Colombo District Tournament (1985); Western Province Football Champions (1995).
Teacher-in-Charge: Mr. Bill Richardson.
A tradition since the school's founding — strength and confidence in the water.
Swimming began in 1938 with a few students, practising weekly at the S. Thomas’ College pool in Mount Lavinia. In 1947, swimmers were coached by Mr. Harry Nightingale. The Inter-House Swimming Gala was introduced on the 11th of November 1949 under the original houses (Lincoln, York, Canterbury and Norwich); the first meet under the current house system (Abeynaike, Carpenter-Garnier, De Saram and Keble) was held in 1976.
Noteworthy achievements include S. Dias representing Sri Lanka at the 9th Asia Pacific Group Swimming & Diving Championships; A.A. Fernandez’s national age-group placings (2007–08); R.J.A. Fonseka (U15 50m Butterfly, 2016); A.K.V. Nethaka’s multiple national placings (2016–2019); Kavindra Nugawela’s South Asian Games Silver (200m Backstroke, 2016) and South Asian Group Championship Golds and Silver; and Amitesha & Atesha Sentitcumaran’s Gold and Silver (2022 Novices Championship).
Teachers-in-Charge: Mr. B.G. Buddhika Madushanka (Middle/Upper); Mrs. Ransirini Fernando & Mrs. Rebecca Sureshkumar (Primary).
Track and field for every age group, nurturing speed, stamina and self-discipline.
Athletics was one of four sports present from the inception of Prep School in 1938. In the early days it took the form of an Annual Sports Meet among the students. By 1941, athletic competitions against other schools were being held, the first against S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. In 1964, our school team became champions at the All Island Primary Schools Athletic Meet. In 1966, Shane Andree was adjudged the highest achiever at the All Island Primary Schools Meet, breaking the record in the 60-metre event. In 1987, T. Alailima broke 2 records at the All Island Public Games Athletic Meet. After athletics at Prep School was revived by Mr. Jayamanne in 2010, M.K. Nazeem won the trophy for Most Outstanding Athlete at the All Island Athletic Meet in 2015, and M.A. Azmi was adjudged Best All Round Athlete in the Colombo South Division in 2017.
Teacher-in-Charge: Ms. Prashani Alwis.
Speed, agility and teamwork on the school's own court.
Basketball was proposed in 1977 by the Sports Council, but only came into fruition in 1993 under Mr. J.S.L. Fernando. In 2004, the Under-10 team were Runners-Up in the All Island Schools Mini Basketball Tournament. In 2015, Prep School got its own basketball court thanks to the support of then-Headmaster Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, after which the sport’s popularity surged. In 2020, the Under-15 team became Joint Champions at the Karandeniya Invitational All Island Basketball Tournament.
Teachers-in-Charge: Mr. D.L.S.L.D. Dasanayake; Miss Epshipa Thawfeek.
Focus, footwork and sportsmanship, one rally at a time.
Players take part in annual Inter-School Tournaments and an annual Inter-House Tournament.
Teachers-in-Charge: Mr. Yasodaran Ramakrishnan (Middle/Upper); Mrs. Fahryza Irfan (Primary).
Quick reflexes and concentration in a fast indoor game.
Players take part in tournaments throughout the year, including the All-Island Table Tennis Tournament — in 2020 the Under 17 team reached the Semi-Finals of the G division.
Teacher-in-Charge: Mr. S. Ravichandran.
Agility and precision, open to boys from Grade 4 upwards.
Badminton was introduced in 1977 and has been very popular among the students ever since. It is open to any student from Grade 4 upwards, and the Inter-House Badminton Tournament is conducted annually, with a “Best Player” selected and awarded.
Achievements: All-Island Champions in the “D” Division (U16) in 1999 at S. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela; 2nd runner-up in the “C” Division at the 2019 SLA Ratnayake Memorial All Island Under 17 Tournament.
Teachers-in-Charge: Mrs. M.N. Hariharan; Miss S. Sarvalogeswary.
An energetic racquet sport that sharpens fitness and quick thinking.
Teachers-in-Charge: Ms. C.S.S. Wimalasiri; Mr. M.M.S. Mazeen.
Strategy and patience that strengthen concentration and problem-solving.
The Chess Club was established in 2006 under then-Headmaster Mr. N. Y. Casie Chetty and is registered with the Sri Lanka Schools’ Chess Association. It has produced many top-rated players and competes in tournaments organised by the SLSCA and other academies in individual and team categories, across the Under 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 age groups. Inter-House Chess Tournaments have been held annually for the last 15 years (except 2020 due to Covid-19).
Teachers-in-Charge: Mr. Indika Matarage (Middle/Upper); Mrs. A.H. Madusha Kumarini Fernando (Primary).
A game of skill and strategy that builds focus and a steady hand.
Carrom was introduced in 2016, with Mrs. Mathayaus as the first coach. Today, roughly 20–30 students from Grades 6 to 11 take part.
Notable achievements: Federation Cup Quarter-Finals (2010); Government Server Carrom Champions (B division 2014, A division 2015); Inter-Club League Men’s Division C Runner-Up (2015).
Teacher-in-Charge: Mr. L.P.S. Warnasiri.
Self-defence and self-discipline that build confidence and respect.
Karate was introduced in 2015 under former Headmaster Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, with around 50 students enrolling at the outset. At present nearly all Grade 2 students engage in Karate (once a week, 30–45 minutes), with 30 other students coached by Mr. Clint Williams, our “sensei” since inception.
Achievements (2016–2019): Gampaha Willy’s Cup 2016, Gojukai Tournament Colombo, the Inter-Club Tournament (2016); Nippon Karate Association Sri Lanka 18th Anniversary Championship, Mansi Nishi Takumi Karate Championship, 2nd Wado International Championship in Gujarat, India (2018); Tournament Championship in Osaka, Japan, White Snow Open Karate Championship, 2nd Harshi Nishi Takumi Championship, and the Indo–Sri Lanka Open Karate Championship (2019).
Teachers-in-Charge: Mrs. Rathiga Anbalagan; Miss Sheron Roshei Dissanayake.
Precision, patience and steady concentration under expert guidance.
Rifle shooting was introduced on the 15th of November 2015 by then-Headmaster Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, aided by the donation of rifles and equipment by Mr. Rajiv Wanigasekara and Mr. Arjuna Gunawardana. It is available to students from Grades 6–11. Junior National Colours were awarded in 2017 to D.G.P. Perera, O.V.M.R. Olugala and Y.R. Gunawardana.
Teacher-in-Charge: Mr. Manjula Illangakoon.
Vocabulary and quick thinking in a friendly battle of words.
Teacher-in-Charge: Mr. H.A. Jithmal Wijesinghe.
