Riophilla Ramlan a fine basketball player

Leslie FERNANDO

BASKET BALL:Riophilla Ramlan, former All Saints College, Borella girl was one of the finest basketball players produced by Sri Lanka. She has been in several cup winning teams not only in basketball but in netball too. Riophilla (Rio, as she is popularly known) was also a good coach and an efficient sports administrator.

It's a unique record for Ramlan family - Husband Farick was a reputed football and basketball player, her two daughters: Jackie a fine netballer and basketball player, Shervonne is also a fine basketball player.

Rio started basketball in 1968 and was coached by B. Mahadevan (former men's and women's national coach). Rio was first selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Pesta Sukan in Singapore in 1973. She represented Sri Lanka at the All-India Tournaments in Kerala, India in 1976, 1977 and captained the team in 1978 that won the All-India tournament. She also represented Sri Lanka at the 7th Asian Basketball Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1978 and the 8th ABC Championships in Hong Kong in 1980.

In 1981 Rio took up coaching at the Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya Basketball team and produced champion teams on several occasions. Under her coaching, Kasturi Chellarajah, Angela Jayamanthri and Shervonne Ramlan (all of HFC represented Sri Lanka in Basketball).

In 1988, Rio was the coach of the Sri Lanka Schools team that won the Junior Nationals in Kandy. In 1989, she was appointed coach for the 10th Asian (Youth) Basketball Championship held in Manila, Philippines and in 1991 was appointed Head Coach of the National Youth team for the 11th ABC Championships held in Nagoya, Japan.

She has been a national basketball selector for ten years. Rio in addition to basketball, excelled in netball.

Rio started playing netball at All Saints College, Borella. Later she played for Tamil Union and was spotted by the famous sports promoter Malcolm Andree and thereafter played for Stadium Sports Club that won many tournaments in the 60s' and 70s'. She captained Hentley Garments netball team to become Mercantile `A' division Champions in 1971. In 1974, she represented the Lankem Netball team that emerged Mercentile `A' division league/knockout and all-Island champions in 1984.

She captained the Mercantile Netball team that emerged All-Island Inter-Association champions in 1984. Rio was vice-captain of the President's team against the British visiting team. The height barrier deprived Rio of playing netball for Sri Lanka, but she participated in the World Masters Games in 1993 held in Perth and captained the Netball team that participated in the World Masters Games in 1994 held in Brisbane, Australia. Rio joined the Speed birds netball team in 1986 and went on to captain the team to win many tournaments. In 1994 together with her two daughters, Shervonne and Jackie the Speed birds Netball team won the All Island Tournament in Kegalle, defeating the strong Sri Lanka Army team that had many national players.

Rio was an efficient sports administrator besides her playing capabilities. She was one of the key officials in the Basketball Federation of Sri Lanka. She was also the Secretary of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka for two years when Shereen Kumaranatunga was president between 2006 -2008.