Holy Land Open 2009

Dear friends,

We are happy to announce the dates for the Holy Land Open 2009!

The opening party will be the evening of Thursday, June 4th and the closing party will be the evening of Sunday, June 7th.

Thursday June 4th will also be a day of workshops. These workshops will be free for anyone registered as a participant (debater or adjudicator) of the Holy Land Open.

So... reserve the dates! Book your flights! And keep checking the group for further updates! We'll have the final registration fee and more details posted within the next week or so.

Make sure all your debating friends know and join this group to stay updated.

All the best and please be in touch if you have any questions,

Hadar Radzinski and Hayah Eichler
Co-Conveners
Holy Land Open 2009
info@holylandopen.org

More information on the tournament can be found here

International Debating Tournament Heart of Europe 2009

To whom it may concern
On behalf of The Debating Club Olomouc and as the chief organizer of the Heart of Europe 2009 I am delighted to invite teams from all countries to come to Olomouc, Czech Republic for Heart of Europe 2009 which is going to take place from 16^th-21^st August 2008 (provisional schedule below).
Heart of Europe is a world-style debating tournament opened for debaters of high schools, which on its previous occasions was extremely successful and very popular among its participants. Despite some difficulties in past years the tournament was not regularly organized but last year we returned to the tradition of hosting this fabulous event. Tournament has eight rounds. The motions are prepared and impromptu.
I believe that you will appreciate the value of debating and the many skills it develops in young people, the need to research sophisticated topics of politics, science or other important matters of current interest, to work together as a team to develop and prepare their case, and to understand both sides of an argument which helps students to understand that alternative points of view are one of the main parts and the greatest strengths of a democracy.
As for the prices we are yet in proceeding with sponsors but under any circumstances the fees should not exceed 100? per debater and 50? per judge (which includes six-day stay, most of the meals, transport all over the place and international friend ship night)
Please, let us know if you are interested in coming as a debater or an adjudicator, with a team (or more) BY 15^th April 2009 at E-mail address heartofeurope2009@gmail.com . There are other newsletters to be distributed soon, with information about events, registration and other important matters and updates.
 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Jakub Kadlec

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Chief organizer

Selection Workshops for World Schools Debating Championships 2010, Doha Qatar

The World Schools Debating Championships 2010 will be held in February 2010 in Doha, Qatar. 

Applications to participate at selection workshops will be accepted till the 10th of April 2009. Please apply with a CV outlining your Debating achievements along with your DOB and contact details before the above date to our email address at debaterscouncil@gmail.com. You will be notified by the selection panel on the 11th of April 2009 as to whether you will be allowed to attend the Workshops.

Selections by the panel are subject to approval by the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka

Follow your favorite school during the League right here

The League will be worked off with the first debate between Bishop's College and Methodist College on the 4th of April 2009.

This blog will be updated regularly with results and current standings within the league. 

Mr. Sachintha Dias will be the Convenor of the tournament and Mr. Gehan Gunatilleke will be the Chief Adjudicator.

Best of luck to the participating teams

Schedule for Asian Alliance Insurance DC Schools League 2009

The following is a tentative schedule for the Debates. Those highlighted in yellow are yet to be confirmed

Debating Workshop organized by Wesley College

A workshop for Schools on the World Schools Debating style was organized by Wesley College on the 25th of March 2009. More information can be found here

World Schools Debating Championships 2009

The 2009 edition of the World Schools Debating Championships was held in Athens, Greece from the 9th to 19th of February. Sri Lanka was represented at the tournament by the following

Prawira Saldin - Captain

David Rajasingham

Sandaruwani De Silva

Themal Ellawela

Vinura Ladduwahetty

Coach - Mr. Sachintha Dias

The Debaters performed beyond expectations at the Championships being ranked 17th out of a total of 40 teams. However since only the top 16 qualify for the Octo Finals, the team fell hearbreakingly close to breaking at the championships for the 1st time. The team of 5 beat countries in the likes of Slovenia, Mexico, India and Japan whilst losing creditably to Canada, Netherlands, Greece and Wales. 

Sri Lanka was also placed 4th on the tab of English as a Second Language (ESL) countries. 

Special commendation is due to David, Prawira and Sandaruwani who were ranked 54th, 56th and 62nd in the overall individual speaker tab and 10th, 11th and 13th in the ESL tab respectively.

Kudos to all concerned!

Asian Alliance DC Schools League 2009

The Asian Alliance DC Schools League, a new venture organized by the Debaters' Council will be worked off on the 04th of April 2009. The tournament will run till 31st October 2009 and will entail 8 teams Debating each other twice during this period on a home and away system. The 8 schools participating in the 1st edition of this tournament are the top 8 schools from the Team tab of the MCDS Sri Lanka Schools Debating Championships 2009. They are

S. Thomas' College

Colombo International School

St. Joseph's College

Royal College

Bishop's College

Wesley College

St. Bridget's Convent

Methodist College

MCDS Sri Lanka Schools Debating Championship 2009

The 2009 edition of the MCDS Sri Lanka Schools Debating Championships was held on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of February 2009. Around 40 teams registered for the tournament this year. The tournament was endorsed by the Debaters' Council.

After 5 strenous and highly competitive rounds of Debating the top 8 teams broke into the Quarter Final Rounds. The following are the results from hence

Quarter Finals

S. Thomas' College A bt Bishop's College A

Colombo International School A bt S. Thomas' College B

Royal College A bt Royal College B

St. Joseph's College A bt Royal College C

Semi Finals

S. Thomas' College A bt St. Joseph's College A

Colombo Interntational School A bt Royal College A

Finals

S. Thomas' College A bt Colombo International School A

David Rajasingham from S. Thomas' College A was adjudged the Best Speaker at the Tournament.

We congratulate S. Thomas' College for retaining the shield they won in 2008 and Colombo International School for their excellent performance to reach the Finals.

S. Thomas' College A was represented by

David Rajasingham - Captain

Vinura Ladduwahetty

Ruven Weerasinghe

Minal Wickremasinghe

Colombo International School A was represented by

Yohan Senarath - Captain

Sarah Jameel

Kithmina Hewage

Tamil and Sinhala competitions were also organized parallel to the English version. We thank the Moot Court and Debating Society of the University of Colombo for the hard work put in to make the competition a success.

Innaugural General Meeting

The Innaugural General Meeting of the Debaters' Council was held on the 21st of February 2009 and the following were appointed as office bearers

Directors

Deshan Pushparajah - Chairman

Nishantha De Silva - Director Training & Develeopment

Gehan Gunatilleke - Chief Adjudicator

Shehani Gomes - Director Finance

Suzie Beling

Kumaravadivel Guruparan - Director Outreach

Anisha Yasaratne - Director External Debating Development

Steering Committee

Deshan Pushparajah - President

Suzie Beliing - Vice President

Kumaravadivel Guruparan - Secretary

Sachintha Dias - Treasurer/ Head of Schools Coordination

Charana Kanankegamage

Haafiz Zainudeen

Hansa Abeyrathne

Shehani Gomes

Sandaruwani De Silva

David Rajasingham

Sarah Jameel

Themal Ellawela

Legal Form

The Debaters' Council was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee effective from the 5th of February 2009. It will now function as an entity owned by its members, which will comprise of insitutions, Secondary, Tertiary, Corporate and others who wish to advance themselves in the field of English Debating.

Current Members of the DC are

S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia Moot Court & Debating Society Wesley College Bishop's College C.M.S Ladies' College Visakha Vidyalaya Royal Institute of Colombo D. S Senanayake College St. Bridget's Convent Ananda College Methodist College Colombo International School St. Joseph's College Royal College Anula Vidyalaya Holy Family Convent