Lankan students excel at Mathematical Olympiad

Five senior school students won three bronze medals and received two honourable mentions at the 47th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Ljubljana, Slovenia recently.

The award winning students were Varuna P. Jayasiri - Royal College, Colombo, R. B. Mahindaratne - Ananda College, Colombo, Supun T. Samarakoon - Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala, J. M. S. Srimal Silva - De Mazenod College, Kandana and T. Priyadarshi Senanayake - Rahula College, Matara.

The students who participated in the mathematical competition obtained 71 marks and emerged 55th of 90 countries. They outwitted some of the best student mathematicians in the world with courage, grit and determination, said CEO Sri Lanka Olympiad Mathematics Foundation (SLOMF), Chanaka Wijeratne.

Wijeratne said the students with exceptional mathematical skills were able to outdo students of developed countries such as Greece, New Zealand, South Africa, Norway, Ireland and Denmark.

The team chosen to represent Sri Lanka at the International Olympiad was the winners of the Sri Lanka Mathematical Olympiad which was organised by the SLOMF. The students underwent systematic and rigorous training prior to their departure for the competition, Wijeratne said.

Senior Lecturer, University of Colombo, Dr. Kirthi Premadasa said Sri Lankan students have been competing since 1995 and this year's victory is a tribute to the country. It is an achievement the country will certainly be proud of. It will encourage students to develop their mathematical skills and participate in international events of this nature.

The IMO was set up in 1959 to encourage mathematically gifted students to develop their talents and foster international relations. The mathematical questions are set by an international panel comprising renowned mathematicians based on number, theory, algebra and geometry.