Long before they step onto the world stage in Kenya this month for the World Schools Debating Championship (WSDC) 2026, Sri Lanka’s national debating team has been putting in the hours, researching complex global issues, mastering the art of debate, and going head to head with some of the sharpest school debaters around the world.And their hard work is paying off in a big way. Over the last few months, this talented squad of high schoolers has been quietly making waves internationally, proving that Sri Lanka is a formidable force in competitive debating.
The team’s journey this season has been nothing short of inspiring. At the Austria Pre-WSDC 2026 online tournament in late May, the Sri Lankan squad battled through tough time zones to claim the ultimate championship title. Navigating five grueling preliminary rounds and high-stakes knockouts, they won against national teams from Kazakhstan, Croatia, Est onia, Denmark, Czechia, the UAE, and Indonesia. Team captain Savith Wijesundara walked away as the 6th Best Speaker overall, alongside teammate T. Tharaniharan, who ranked 16th.This victory was the perfect follow-up to their stellar run at the Oldham Cup in Singapore this past April.
Known as one of the toughest training grounds ahead of the WSDC, the tournament hosted 50 teams and nearly 200 participants. The Sri Lankan team was virtually unstoppable, winning seven out of eight preliminary debates, including a remarkable win over Team India, and finishing ahead of formidable teams from Vietnam and Thailand to secure the Second Runner-Up spot.Individually, they proved they have the voices to match the world’s best. Out of 187 debaters at the Oldham Cup, four Sri Lankans dominated the top tier of the speaker standings:● Rudhesh Ram Sathananthan: 4th Best Speaker● Adam Dhilshan: 6th Best Speaker● Savith Wijesundara: 10th Best Speaker● T. Tharaniharan: 12th Best SpeakerSo, who are the bright young minds representing the country? Selected from a highly competitive pool of 18 of the best school debaters in the country, back in October 2025, the final five spent months undergoing rigorous training to earn their spots.
The 2026 WSDC national squad features:● Savith Wijesundara) – Elizabeth Moir School● Adam Dhilshan – Royal College● T. Tharaniharan – Royal College● Apoorva Jinadasa – Hillwood College, Kandy● Rudhesh Ram Sathananthan – Colombo International SchoolThese international achievements come on the back of a structured and highly active domestic debating ecosystem. In 2025 alone, the Debaters’ Council supported 15 inter-school tournaments, bringing together nearly 270 students and over 60 judges.
The continued inclusion of debaters from outside Colombo highlights the growing national reach of the activity, supported by outreach workshops conducted in Kandy, Galle, Kurunegala and Jaffna.Even the best natural talent needs guidance, and the team is backed by an incredibly dedicated support system. The coaching panel brings a wealth of international experience. Head Coach Shalem Sumanthiran (a WSDC 2020 finalist) works alongside Sachin Tissera (a European Universities Debating Championship finalist) and Kavindra Senaratna (a former WSDC representative).
Together, these internationally recognized mentors are helping the students hone their arguments and build their confidence.Armed with a strong community, elite coaching, and a track record of beating the odds, Team Sri Lanka is packing their bags for Kenya this month with serious momentum.
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