Tharka 2025 - Mahesh Abeywickrama Memorial Debate Competition

The final grand debate of the Mahesh Abeywickrama Memorial Debate Competition 2025, along with the accompanying speech contest, was successfully held on March 8^th at the University of Moratuwa premises.

As in previous years, this competition was conducted under the patronage of Helakuru and took place over a period of four months from December to March. Several preliminary rounds were held during this time. The preliminary rounds of the debate competition were conducted online. More than one hundred school students registered for the speech contest, which was organized by grade levels.

For the main debate competition, seventeen school debate teams registered, of which eight teams qualified for the quarterfinals. Among these eight teams, four advanced to the semifinals. The debate teams from Lumbini College, Colombo and Nalanda College, Colombo qualified for the final grand debate. In the final, the Lumbini College debate team won the championship while the Nalanda College debate team was the runner-up.

Alongside the competition, a popular vote was conducted to select the most popular debate team. During this process, the debate team from Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala was awarded the title of the most popular debate team.