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| Sunday, 14 March 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Lyceum fortunate to have Upali in charge of cricket Remember Upali de Silva the cricketing and athletic star from the Southern Province? Well, he has put into practice the early promise he held as a sportsman and now is the master-in-charge of cricket at Lyceum International School and is also a PTI at the school. The encouragement that he has given the boys at Lyceum is so great that the school triumphed at the Inter-International Schools under 19 cricket tournament, beating Colombo International School in the final. The school is bound to go from strength to strength with a driving force like De Silva. Upali started as an all round sportsman at Rahula College, Matara excelling in athletics, cricket and football at the under 16 level. As an athlete, he represented the school at Southern Group Meet and at the Public Schools meet in 1955 and he played for the school cricket team too. He then crossed over to St. Thomas' Matara and played for the first eleven cricket team in 1956 and continued his interest in athletics, representing the school at the Southern Group Meet and at the Public Schools Meet in 1956 and 57. Cricket, However, was Upali's first 'love' and he applied himself with great dedication to the game and was rewarded. He held the ground record for Galle when he scored 202 runs in 1957 and played for St. Thomas' Matara in the 'Big Match' against St. Servatius, Matara from 1956 to 1958. He had great talent for cricket and while at school, he was invited to play for Matara Sports Club in the 'Daily News' Trophy and represented the club from 1957 to 1964. It was at this stage that he got the opportunity of becoming a PTI. While playing for Matara SC he went to India to follow a physical training course at the YMCA College of Physical College of Physical Education between 1959-1960 and played cricket for YMCA College team and won his cricket colours. On his return to Sri Lanka, Upali joined Government Service as a PTI in the Education Department and was posted to many schools in the island. While in the Education Department, he played Government Services 'A' division cricket and then joined the newly formed Ministry of Sports as a sports officer. In 1989, he retired from Government Service and joined S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and was a PTI, master-in-charge of junior cricket and first eleven cricket for 10 years. He was also a cricket umpire, graduating into grade one of Association of Cricket Umpires, Sri Lanka and panel one of Board of Control for Cricket, Sri Lanka and had a long stint of around 25 years active service. At the moment, he is an elected Vice-President of ACUSL. (A. C. de S.) |
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