Ravishka: A rising star in the making

By M. Shamil Amit

Dedication and determination are vital aspects in any sport and that has been the successes of 18-year old Salpadoruge Thehara Ravishka Fernando a talented athlete hailing from Maris Stella College Thimbirigaskatuwa who for sure will be in the news in time to come.

Presently Ravishka as he is fondly known has achieved tremendous success since he began wearing the spikes and making his appearance at the junior level in the field of athletics in the first of three schools he attended which was at the Royal Institute International School Gampaha

It was Terans Weerakoon, his first mentor, who has been the motivator as he saw in Ravishka immense talent capable of achieving great heights in the field of athletics. 

“His (Weerakoon) guidance and motivation was the main reason for my passion”, said Ravishka whose first fling was in the high jump event.

Ravishka achieved his first success in the year 2018 when he did the Under-12 high jump at the International Schools Athletic Championship (ISAC) with a leap of 1.32m which was a new record at the ISAC meet and followed it up by securing the third place in the Under 14 level with an improved leap of 1.45m. He was honoured with the best athlete of the year award at the Royal Institute’s prize giving.

In the year 2022 Ravishka joined St Benedict’s College Kotahena and curtailed his athletics to attended cricket practices and had the privilege of representing the Under 19 team. He was also selected to represent the Colombo combined team.

But his first love was athletics and he went on to improve his high jumping and secured the first place in the Under-16 age group at the Saints Quadrangular Athletic Meet with a meet record jump of 1.72m.

Ravishka later decided to solely focus on athletics and after joining Maris Stella Thimbirigaskatuwa in 2023 he tasted immense success thanks to the inspiration and guidance of coach Damitha Dissanayake.

“It was here that I made the biggest decision of switching my high jump to triple which turned out successful and it became a turning point in my athletics career”, said Ravishka.

Following the encouragement and support given he was able to achieve several milestone in the year 2025. It began with a second place at the Sri Lanka Athletics Junior National Championship 2025 in the Under-20 age group with a 15.24m feat.

From there on it was success all the way for Ravishka as he came out on top in five national level meets achieving two first place endings at the Negombo Zonal Games Under-20 triple jump (14.20m) and Under-20 long jump (7.09m which was a personal best) and first place at the Western Provincial Athletic Meet 2025 in the triple jump event with a distance of 14.81m.

Ravishka came out on top in two of the top athletic meets the first being the Sir John Tarbat Senior Championship 2025 where he secured the first place in the Under-20 triple jump event with a leap of 15.04 and first in the same event at the All Island School Games 2025 with a leap of 15.24 which was his personal best and was awarded Colours for the achievement.

“Over the years I have been able to achieve these feats and I would like to pay tribute to all who have been supporting me, my mother, father and sister and not forgetting Damitha Dissanayake and Janith sir”, he said.

School principal Rev. Brother Mervyn Perera and head coach Suranjith Sanrath and assistant Tharuka had also played a part in his success, most of all Terans Weerakoon.

Ravishka will also no doubt be aiming for greater heights and says he is excited and looking forward towards new goals with the talent that he possesses.