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| Sunday, 9 November 2003 |
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Light-hearted banter at launch of History of Royal-Thomian cricket match by SRIAN OBEYESEKERE It looked like an off field 'Battle of the Blues' to the strains of classical music from Beethoven and Berlioz by the Thomian symphony orchestra with the Royalists seemingly blown off by a comparatively drowning Thomian anthem rang - 'Thomians young and Thomians old, Thomians staunch and true... rally round the college flag'... as S. Thomas' College played host by its sea side college hall at the historical launch last Thursday night of the joint publication of 125 years of cricket between the two schools. But for the comforting words of the Warden of S. Thomas', David Ponniah, who himself once wore the college cap with distinction, setting to relieve the somewhat outnumbered looking Royalists in the left corner in the Thomian den saying, "we accord a special welcome to our greatest rivals who are our greatest friends." Attended by former cricketers from the two institutions including Thomian stalwart, Bertie Wijesinha and Royal's C. H. Gunasekera, the significance of the occasion perhaps found fruition in the words of Royal's Principal, Upali Gunasekera when he said the Royal-Thomian, which was the oldest such match in the world not even interrupted by two world wars, qualified for a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Wijesinha from S. Thomas' and Tharaka Kottegoda from Royal were accorded the honour of lighting the traditional oil lamp to mark the occasion while distinguished Old Royalist, C. H. Gunasekera presented the Royal Principal a first copy of the book titled, 'History of the Royal-S. Thomas' cricket match' and Nihal Gunaratne, distinguished Old Thomian and Senior Partner of Julius & Creasy to the Warden of S. Thomas.' The joint publication by the Royal College Union and S. Thomas' College Old Boys Association and sponsored by Ceylinco Insurance Company captures big matches of 124 years in three portions with details of the first 100 matches. After Gunasekera, the Royal Principal, who was given first honours of addressing the gathering, dwelt on the Royal-Thomian which bound the two schools by this pioneering game, the first of its type in fact to come into being in the country. The Warden of S. Thomas', Ponniah held the floor by his reflections running into friendly banter, bordering on his debut century in the 'Big Match' when he flayed the Royalists only to be reminded by another old boy of S. Thomas', R. Renganathan, who is the Managing Director of Ceylinco Insurance that he had been helped by five dropped catches and after running out his opening partner Ajith Jayasekera. Ceylinco's Managing Director, who finds his boss, Lalith Kotelawala and himself in opposite camps, his Chairman being an Old Royalist, brought the audience to their feet when he said that "we don't encounter the 'Battle of the Blues" and had learnt to respect each other. He conveyed Kotelawala's best wishes and sentiments on this happy occasion which Ceylinco had supported by coming in to sponsor the publication. He said that there was tremendous enthusiasm by both present boys and old boys of the two schools, some of whom were abroad, towards coming to witness the historic 125th 'Royal-Thomian'. He ended on the note that, 'we never lost to Royal,' but that as the old adage goes, 'the better side wins.' Co-Chairman of the Thomian Organising Committee, M. Balasubramaniam, in lighter vein drew rounds of laughter when he recalled that Warden Ponniah's century had in fact been overshadowed by the century by P. I. Pieris earlier which was faster. As to the book, he said that it was the result of a wonderful effort for the contribution by Lalith Kotelawala and Renganathan courtesy Ceylinco. In three sections mainly covering the first 100 matches and with 300 glossy pages also contained a series of articles which included contributions by the late Prime Minister, Sir John Kotelawala, late President J. R. Jayawardene, the late F. C. de Saram, Jackson Smith, the late Artie Lankatilleke, R. B. Wijesinha, P. I. Pieris, Michael Tissera, Tharaka Kottehewa, Kaushal Silva and Videsh Balasubramaniam. |
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