Savithu Nethmaka gymnast and roller skater par excellence

The Roller Skating Team of Bandaranayake Maha Vidyalaya Gampaha which participated at the All Island National School held in Thambuththegama, Anuradhapura in 2022.  Standing L/R – Savithu Nethmaka, Vihara, Arosh Nishshanka (Prefect of Games), Iran Champika de Silva (Principal), Kusuman Ranasinghe (Deputy Principal), Prabath Sanjeewa Kapuruga (Coach), Lahiru, Raveesh, Sandul (Picture by Dilwin Mendis).  

Thirteen year old Gymnast and Roller Skater and the first ever to win a Gold Medal and a Championship for Roller Skating for his school Savithu Nethmaka Thilakaratne has brought honour and glory to his alma mater Bandaranayake Maha Vidyalaya, Gampaha with his deeds in Gymnastics and Roller Skating.

Savithu was born on 6th July 2009 and hails from Udugampala Gampaha was admitted to Sumedha Vidyalaya Gampaha in 2015 when Mrs. L.A.C.S. Wijetunge was at the helm of the school and his first class teacher was Mrs. Devini

Savithu Nethmaka Thilakarathne is seen here with his medals

Senanayake. Same year he commenced Gymnastics under Prabath Kapuruge and after strenuous training in 2017 he participated for the Gymnastic Tournament organized by the Gampaha District Assoociation and in the under eight age group he won Silver Medals for Floor and Vault events respectively and in 2019 in the District Novices Championship competing in the under nine age category he clinched Gold Medals for Floor and Vault events.

In the meantime in 2019 he passed the year five Scholarship Exam with flying colours and drafted to Bandaranayake Maha Vidyalaya Gampaha. His Parents Pragathi Thilakaratne and Anuradha Kasige noticing this son’s ability for Roller Skating they handed over their son to Prabath Kapuruge and his first attempt was at the Gampaha District Tournament and participating for the 50 x 4 and 600 x 4 relay events his team won a Gold and a Bronze respectively and at the All Island National Schools Association Meet in the under ten age group he won a Silver for 100 metres and then in the Gampaha Synergy Sports Club Meet he won a Bronze for 50 meter event in the under ten age group and in the 2018 Junior Nationals Roller Skating Meet he grabbed a Bronze at the 200 meter event.

Then in 2019 at the under 12 age group in the All Island Nationals Meet he won Silvers for 100 and 200 metre events and in 2020 at the Junior Nationals Meet he won Golds for 400 and 2000 metre events and Silvers for 300,500,600,700,800 and 900 and Bronzes for 100 and 200 meter events and in 2021 in the under 14 Category at the All Island Junior National Championship he won Silvers for 400,500,700,800 and 900 Bronzes for 200,300,600 and 2000 meters and finally recently held All Island National Schools Meet at Thambuttegama Anuradhapura he won Golds for 700,800,900 and 1000 and Silvers for 500 and 600 and he was adjudged as the All Island under 14 Champion. During a span of six years in Gymnastic and Roller Skating he has grabbed 35 medals which includes nine Golds, 18 Silvers and eight Bronzes and his Principal Iran Champika de Silva and Prefect of Games Arosh Nissanka are always supportive for Roller Skating.