Magalkanda Buddhist Junior School, Maggona is an under privileged school in Beruwala. It has just over 300 students of which nearly 150 are boys and no sports until the volunteer coaches of Perambara Cultural Forum, the cultural arm of Sanvedee Minis Pavura undertook to train the students in athletics some three and half years ago.
Just a year later the students of this school started to have at least a single podium finish at the Western Province Schools Athletics Championship, the country’s most competitive provincial athletic championship. This year was special for Magalkanda as the athletes trained by volunteer coaches of Perambara Cultural Forum, won two golds, one silver, one fourth place and one fifth place at the Western Province Championship. Remarkable achievements also included a meet record in the under-18 boys’ 1500 metres.
In the boys’ category the school reached 17th position at the Western Province meet. It totalled 22 points. Gateway International was placed 16th with 23 points. Nalanda collected just one point. This school finished well above some of the leading schools in Colombo.