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Lanka makes history with first-ever international Tamil debating victory
Sunday Island
|December 28, 2025
Sri Lanka's Tamil Debaters' Council has made history, clinching its maiden international debating crown through the National Development Squad's victory in Malaysia.
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School debaters with their teachers
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
This story is from the December 28, 2025 edition of Sunday Island.
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