Sri Lanka’s Tamil Debaters’ Council has made history, clinching its maiden international debating crown through the National Development Squad’s victory in Malaysia.
The Sri Lankan delegation emerged champions at the Sampanthan Paindhamizh Chudar 5.0, becoming the first non-Malaysian team in the history of the competition to win the championship.
This achievement officially opens the international championship trophy cabinet of the National Tamil Debating Development Pool, signalling Sri Lanka’s arrival as a serious force in global Tamil debating.
The Sri Lankan team that clinched the historic title at the International Tamil Debating Championship organised by University Utara Malaysia (UUM) consisted of:
- Hareish Jeyaruban – C/ Royal College (Captain)
- Michael Jenushan – St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna
- Sivajiny Pratheepan – Methodist Girls’ High School, Point Pedro
- Lakshmitha Sivasankaran – Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College
In addition, Sri Lanka was represented by multiple teams across Malaysian universities. The delegation included a team that participated in the University of Malaya (UM):
- Niranchan Yukhappiriyan – S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia
- Tharanigha Thavarubarasan – Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam
- Sri Akshaja Reji Janakan – Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College
A Presentation Team also represented Sri Lanka at the University Utara Malaysia:
- Saravananirthika Meenachi Sundaram – Bishop’s College, Colombo
- Pragathishri Ramachandran – Ladies College Colombo
- Thanenthiran Karthihan – C/ Royal College
An introduction to Tamil Debating at UPSI
- Surranitha Suthagaran – Bishop’s College, Colombo 03.
- Sangavi Thuraichelvan – Bishop’s College Colombo 03.
All these students were guided by the President of Tamil Debaters’ Council, Sajishnavan Sivachandrathevan, followed by Sathurshanan Manoharan, Thiviyan Mathiruban and Umaiyall Thuraichelvan of the council.
Following the championship victory, the Sri Lankan delegation was formally felicitated by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia, Rizvi, at the High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
During the meeting, Rizvi commended the students for their discipline, academic excellence, and dignified representation of Sri Lanka on an international platform. He also held discussions on the future potential for annual debating initiatives and cultural tourism–based exchange programmes between Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
The High Commissioner further took time to educate the delegation on the history of the Ceylonese Tamil community in Malaysia, highlighting the longstanding historical and cultural ties between the two nations. In a gesture of continued engagement, he connected the delegation with the President of the Ceylonese Association of Malaysia through a direct phone call, opening avenues for sustained people-to-people collaboration.
This delegation is also notable for being the largest Tamil school-based student delegation from Sri Lanka to represent the country in Malaysia, spanning five different Malaysian states in a single tour. The Sri Lankan teams represented the country at:
- University Utara Malaysia (UUM), Kedah
- University of Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur
- University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Terengganu
- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang
- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Perak
Observers have described the championship victory and the diplomatic engagement as a turning point in the history of Sri Lankan Tamil debating, opening new academic, cultural, and competitive avenues beyond national borders.
The Tamil Debaters’ Council of Sri Lanka noted that this achievement reflects years of structured training, discipline, and vision under its National Tamil Debating Development Pool, and expressed confidence that Sri Lankan school debaters will continue to gain recognition and respect on international platforms. (Newswire)
