Tournament scrapbook - World Schools Debating Championships

WSDC 2008
12/3/08 9:53 AM
From
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080824/Mirror/sundaytimesmirror_625
5.html
Under debate
By Natasha Fernandopulle, Pix by Saman Kariyawasam
The Debater's Council along with the Moot Court and Debating
Society of the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo organised
a series of three workshops which included one for the students of
the Law Faculty, another for the adjudicators and one for school
children. The latter was held at the Faculty of Law on August 15
where around 120 students from various school between the ages of
16 and 18, participated.
Speaking to Gehan Gunatilleke who is part of the Debater's Council,
he said that this is "an independent society of past and present
debaters where the main functions are providing services which
include adjudication, training and also the selecting of the world
schools debating team." And he went on to say that they got
together around two years ago to form this council for those who
were out of university, adding, "we hope to become a national level
organisation at some point."
The style followed at these workshops were, the British Parliamentary
and World Schools format and they were conducted by Sam Block
and Mhairi Murdoch. And the main sponsors for these workshops
were the Neelan Thiruchelvam Trust and Our World English School.
Sam Block, was ranked as Best Speaker at the World Universities
Debating Competition 2008, which was held in Assumption, Thailand.
The main purpose of having him here for the workshops was with the
purpose of coaching the team from Sri Lanka who will be participating
in the World Schools Debating Competition. And speaking to the four
members of the team they seemed quite confident about doing well
at the competition which is to be held in the US this year.
"They have been enjoying themselves, they get involved and seem
very eager," said Sam, adding that the seniors have done some
debating prior to this workshop. "Some are a little apprehensive but
have done pretty well." He went on to say that the students have
said they have gained a lot, which he was happy to hear.
David Rajasingham (17), who is the captain of the team and a
student of S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia said, "I got interested in
debating when one of my schoolmates Prawira introduced me to it -
this was in 2006," and in terms of the plus points of debating he
says, "you tend to know much more and are forced to research."
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