Malalasekera Mawatha had probably never seen the likes of the scene that was enacted on the 26th May,  when the Bridgetines lined up in their gaily decorated vehicles to participate in the first ever‘Bridgetine Drive’. Not even the thunderous clouds or the torrential rains, could dampen the spirits of the excited Bridgetines,  and the intrepid committee members, who arrived at the site in the early hours of the morning, could be seen running hither and thither,  registering  the cars as they came,  distributing food packs, drinks, and give aways .

The turnout of cars was both staggering and unexpected. There were a total of 112 cars but the number of tickets sold was around 600 ,  which meant that several  Bridgetines opted to just donate Rs 1000/- if they were unable to participate, showing their support to their Alma mater .  The first car was flagged off at 8.30 a.m. by Rev Mother Superior Sister Solange Fernando.  Leading the way was a procession of Panda cars and two real life looking pandas.   Each car was provided with a route which they had to follow, and several questions which they had to answer.  The questions were based on places along the route, ensuring that no short cuts were taken, as they had to actually visit the site to be able to answer them. Judging from all accounts, a hilarious and enjoyable time was had by all.

At the end of the rally the participants handed in their answer papers, and romped along to the mini fair which was held at the lower school grounds. The fair was officially opened by a former President of the PPA, Mrs. Deepa Edirisinghe . A carnival atmosphere prevailed throughout the day, with a bouncer, rides, a game stall managed by the Prefects of the school, and around 50 stalls.

The winners of the rally were announced late in the afternoon. Prizes were also given to the car having all Bridgetines wearing the Bridgetine t shirt, and for cars with all Bridgetines.  Teachers participating it the rally were also given awards.  It was heartwarming to see two of our most senior Presidents, Mrs Lilamani Rodrigo and Mrs Marina Wijesekera , and  a  most  revered retired teacher, Mrs Chandrani Kulasiri  participating in the rally with evident enjoyment, in spite of the inclement weather.

The event was a resounding success according to the feedback received, and the consensus of opinion was that it should be an annual event.  A notable observation was the high participation of the young Bridgetines. According to some of those spoken to , this was  mainly due to the modest registration fee of  Rs 1000/- , which  was  affordable to them. 

The  Organizing committee worked tirelessly  during the last few week, getting sponsorships, banners, freebies,  and  most of all  getting the logistics in place to  enable the movement of over hundred cars within the Colombo metropolitan area.  This was no easy task, and the Bridgetines owe a debt of gratitude to them.

Winners