Avantha started teaching swimming in London in 2006, while completing his BSc in Sports Coaching at the University of East London. Over seven years at Greenwich Leisure Centres, he trained under the UK's ASA Level 1 and 2 swim teaching standard and earned his National Pool Lifeguard Qualification — the same rigorous framework used in British schools.
After graduating, he spent two years as a Level 3 certified personal trainer in London before returning home with a single idea: what world-class swim teaching looks like in the UK, every child back home deserves too.
He and Dinethri built Stingrays together — from a single pool in Kandy to 2,100+ swimmers learning every week across 10+ cities, a proprietary Level 1–4 coach training pathway, and partnerships with Trinity College Kandy, Tamil Union, Nalanda College and dozens of schools, clubs and communities.
Credentials & Qualifications
- BSc Sports Coaching · University of East London
- ASA Level 1 & 2 (UK swim teaching)
- NPLQ · UK Pool Lifeguard
- Active IQ Level 3 Personal Trainer
- Former Sri Lanka national swimmer
- Previously led Trinity College Kandy swimming — took the program to #2 at the National Age Group Championships in under a year
When the numbers on Indian child drowning crossed our desk, the decision was simple. India needs what Sri Lanka built. So we brought it.
Stingrays India operates with local partners, Indian coaches in training, and Indian support staff across Chennai.
