Mahinda beats Visakha to lift Tokyo Cement Super Quiz Crown
Mahinda College, Galle walked away with the coveted Tokyo Cement Super Quiz Crown at the Grand Finale of Season 3 held on Sunday in front of a live studio audience. Having clenched the Rs.1 million grand prize, the team of champs from Mahinda, comprising of Hans Theekshana, Kaviru Karunanayake, Gaurava Balasuriya and Punsara Viriththamulla were visibly jubilant as they celebrated victory in a nail-biting finish against the fan favourites from Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo.
Rs.1 million was presented by Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Chairman Tokyo Cement Group to Mahinda College Galle who triumphed at the Grand Finale, while each member of the team was presented with a latest Dell Inspiron Core i3 Laptop. Team Members of Visakha Vidyalaya walked away with Rs. 500,000 and a Tablet PC each for emerging Runners Up at this highly coveted battle of the brains concluding its successful 3rd leg.
The competition got highly intense when both teams came to a cliff-hanging tie at the end of the usual 5 quiz rounds. Mahindians who were lagging 60 points behind at the end of round 3 bravely defended the pride of their Alma Mater during 4th round which allows each team member to simultaneously score marks for every question. Fuelled by this turn of luck the boys continued their winning streak over the girls’ team in the ensuing round to bring the game to an astounding stalemate at 280 points each.
Next, the audience was treated to a fierce battle of wits as the two teams of whiz kids took on an extra round of questions that not only tested their prowess in general knowledge, but also their leadership qualities to stay focused while being under pressure. The Southerners displayed their famed fighting spirit as everyone looked on in pin-drop silence while the Visakhians fought valiantly until the very last question, only to be beaten by merely 10 points.
“It was one great experience. We knew we had a tough battle against our opponents but never expected the final to be this close. My team worked really hard to get here and we were determined to make our school proud. When the competition came to a tie we wanted to somehow give a good fight till the very last question. So, this win tonight is really memorable,” enthused Hans Theekshana, captain of Mahinda College quiz team, expressing his excitement in emerging victorious against the equally competent Visakhians. Mahinda College became the 2nd school from the South to clinch the prestigious Tokyo Cement Super Quiz title and now joins the ranks of Royal College Colombo and Richmond College Galle being winners of Season 1 and Season 2 respectively.
Dr. Harsha Cabral, Chairman of Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC graced the occasion as the chief guest together with Shiro Takihara Director of Tokyo Cement Group while Mr. Anil Kumara Meegahage – Senior Executive Vice-president and Bertal Pinto-jayawardena - Executive Director of EAP Broadcasting Company represented the program producer Swarnavahini.
Dr. Edwin Ariyadasa, who chaired the Panel of Judges was joined by E. M. S. Ekanayake, Principal of Thurstan College, Colombo and S. B. M. Nimal Dharmasiri, Director of Education for Religious and Value Education, representing the Ministry of Education. Sandamali Aviruppola, Principal of Visakha Vidayala Colombo, and Gamini Jayawardena, Principal of Mahinda College Galle with teachers, and parents of the contestants from both schools were present in support of the aspiring polymaths. Both teams were backed by cheering supporters as they showed off their brilliance in general knowledge.