SUMMA RUGBY Integration

FIRST OFF THE BOARD. STAGE XX. 🔥

R M S S I Bandara
Sni Sumangala College, Kandy
➡️ Colombo Aces

The opening pick of Stage XX in the Next XV Player Draft.

A nippy scrum half and the captain of Sri Sumangala College, Kandy, Shashika Bandara will represent the Colombo Aces!

Quick, sharp and full of energy, Shashika brings pace, control and leadership to the Aces backline.

What a player to have in our lineup! ⚡💪

The Knockout stages approach in the U14 Elite Rugby Tournament 2026

Watch LIVE on ThePapare 1 HD (Dialog Television Ch. 126), Dialog PLAY, and ThePapare.com

A Dream Turned Into Reality – A Truly Memorable Day for Sri Sumangala College 💙🏉

One of the most memorable and historic days for the entire school community of Sri Sumangala College, Kandy — a long-standing dream has finally become a reality.

The opening of our modern High-Performance Gymnasium is not merely the opening of a building. It is the fulfilment of a vision, a commitment to our students, our athletes, and the future of Summa Rugby. This achievement will remain a proud chapter in the history of our school.

I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Gadaffi Ismail, AFI Corps, and the Riyaz Ismail Scholarship Fund for their tremendous generosity and commitment in funding and donating this state-of-the-art High-Performance Gymnasium for the benefit of our students and athletes.

A special and sincere thank you goes to Mr. Milan Rathnathilake, a proud brother from the 2002 A/L batch, for his generous contribution towards the renovation and development of the building. Your support has played an invaluable role in making this project a reality.

We must also acknowledge Mr. Damitha Gomez, who made every effort to connect us with AFI Corps and played an important role in initiating this valuable partnership, and Mr. Sampath Senavirathne, for his tremendous efforts in coordinating with Mr. Milan Rathnathilake.

Our sincere appreciation goes to our respected Principal, Mr. Deshapriya Rathnayake, for the guidance, encouragement and courage extended throughout this journey. I also thank the academic and non-academic staff and our students for their tremendous support in making the opening ceremony a truly memorable occasion.

Our gratitude also goes to the present committee of the Old Boys’ Association, including Mr. Palitha Srilal, Hon. President; Mr. Rumesh A. Silva, Hon. Secretary; Mr. Channa Urapolage, Hon. Treasurer, and all other committee members and distinguished past pupils who extended their valuable support towards this achievement.

A special thank you to Thushan Sumeera Mallikage – Tushan Events for managing the event audio, lighting and visual arrangements, and to Mr. Ajith Kumara Jagoda – Flower Sense for the beautiful floral arrangements and decorations that added elegance to this special occasion.

And finally, but certainly not the least, my deepest appreciation goes to our fellow members of Summa Rugby Integration — not only those who are with us today, but every individual who has been part of this journey from its very beginning.

This achievement belongs to all of us.

Every contribution, every connection, every sacrifice, every idea and every effort has brought us to this historic moment. What we witnessed today is proof of what can be achieved when the Old Boys, school administration, students, well-wishers and the wider Summa community come together with one vision.

From a long-standing dream to a modern reality — this is Summa Rugby moving forward. 🏉💙

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Sujith and the team for stepping in at very short notice and giving us excellent coverage of this memorable occasion.

This is not just a gymnasium.
This is an investment in my brothers years to come
This is an investment in Summa Rugby.
This is an investment in the future of Sri Sumangala College.

Together, we dreamed it.
Together, we built it.
Together, we celebrate it. 💙🏉

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Tomorrow, the battle intensifies as the SLSRFA Under-16 Elite Ten-a-Side Rugby Tournament 2026 enters its decisive stage!

Acknowledgement to Mr. Lakpriya Weerasinghe – Distinguished Past Pupil (Batch of 2005)

We extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Lakpriya Weerasinghe, a distinguished past pupil of the Batch of 2005, for joining our U16 Coaching Camp held in preparation for the upcoming U16 Elite Tournament.
His valuable participation, insights, and motivational session provided our young players with much-needed inspiration, confidence, and encouragement as they prepare to take on the challenges ahead.
It is truly encouraging to see our past pupils continuing to give back to their alma mater and inspire the next generation of players.
Thank you, Mr. Lakpriya Weerasinghe, for your time, support, and commitment towards the development of our young athletes.
Together, we build the future. 🏉💙
Lakpriya Weerasinghe Sri Sumangala College,Kandy-Mother OBA

Here are the official groups for the SLSRFA Under-16 Elite Ten-A-Side Rugby Tournament 2026!

Watch LIVE this weekend on ThePapare 1& ThePapare 1 HD (Dialog TV Ch.no 62 & 126), Dialog PLAY app, & thepapare.com website.

Historic Milestone for Sri Sumangala College, Riyaz Ismail Memorial Gymnasium and Milan Rathnathilake Building Officially Declared Open A landmark chapter in the history of Sri Sumangala College, Kandy, was written on 4th August 2026 with the ceremonial opening of the Riyaz Ismail Memorial High Performance Gymnasium and the Milan Rathnathilake Building, two major infrastructure projects dedicated to the development of the College's sporting excellence.

The High Performance Gymnasium, equipped with state-of-the-art professional training equipment, fills a long-standing need of the College and marks a significant investment in the future of its student athletes. The facility has been established through the generous sponsorship of the Riyaz Ismail Scholarship Foundation, affiliated with AFI Corps (Pvt) Ltd, which donated all professional gymnasium equipment and accessories required for the project.

The renovation and development of the building that now houses the gymnasium was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of Mr. Milan Rathnathilake, a distinguished past pupil of the Batch of 2002, who solely funded the construction and refurbishment, leaving behind a lasting legacy for future generations of Sumangalians.

The ceremony was graced by Mr. Zainudeen Gadaffi Ismail, Chairman of the AFI Group, as the Chief Guest, accompanied by Mrs. Gadaffi Ismail and their family.
Guests of Honour included Mrs. Iroshi Senadheera, representing Mr. Milan Rathnathilake, Mr. Sampath Senavirathna, Coordinator of the Batch of 2002, and Mr. T. S. Wijesundara, Director of Sports of the Kandy Zonal Education Office.
Also in attendance were the Principal, members of the clergy, Vice Principals, officials of the Past Pupils' Association, members of the School Development Society, the Summa Rugby Integration Committee, the Rugby Sub Committee, teachers, parents, distinguished invitees and rugby players from the First XV through the Under-12 teams.

The event was more than the opening of a new sports facility. It celebrated a shared vision of developing young people through sport, discipline and leadership. Since becoming the Platinum Sponsor of Summa Rugby in 2025, Mr. Zainudeen Gadaffi Ismail and AFI Corps (Pvt) Ltd have continuously supported the programme, not merely as sponsors but as committed partners in building a sustainable sporting culture within the College.

The naming of the Riyaz Ismail Memorial High Performance Gymnasium serves as a lasting tribute to the memory of Mr. Riyaz Ismail, whose values of generosity and service continue to inspire through this remarkable initiative.
The Milan Rathnathilake Building similarly stands as a symbol of gratitude and commitment, reflecting the enduring bond between a distinguished past pupil and his alma mater.

This historic achievement was successfully coordinated through the dedicated efforts of Summa Rugby Integration, together with the Principal, the Past Pupils' Association, the School Development Society, the Rugby Sub Committee, donors, parents and well-wishers who worked collectively to transform a shared dream into reality.

The opening of these two landmark facilities represents not only an investment in infrastructure but also an investment in the future of Sri Sumangala College, creating opportunities for generations of students to pursue excellence in sport while fostering discipline, resilience and leadership.

Today, we did not simply open a gymnasium and a building; we laid the foundation for a culture of excellence that will inspire generations of students of the college

12 elite school teams. One ultimate prize. The battle for the Zahira Rugby Sevens Cup Championship is officially ON!

Watch LIVE action on ThePapare 2 and ThePapare 2 HD available on Dialog Television Ch. no 63 and 127, Dialog Play App and ThePapare.com.3