Gamini - Wonderful cricketer

by Delwin Mendis - Moratuwa Sports Corr.

CRICKET: Moratu Vidyalaya was founded in 1934 as a mixed school and was appropriately named Bauddha Mandiraya.

Till then the missionaries dominated the education in Moratuwa. The average families of Moratuwa found it difficult to get their children admitted to these schools. That was the very reason why Moratu Vidyalaya came into being as a mixed school.

The school rapidly and became a leading school. The then Minister of Education Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara took a keen interest in developing the school and raised it to the level of a Maha Vidyalaya and during this time attention was made to have extra-curricular activities, giving pride of place to cricket, athletics, volleyball, netball and cadeting.

Then came the golden era of this institution came around when A.M. de Silva - an old boy of St. Sebastian’s College - the brother of S.F. de Silva - first Director of Education - another Sebastianite got together and had their education there, accepted the task of running the school.

Today, it is not only one of the leading schools in Moratuwa, but also a popular school in the island. They came up fast and is now they are capable of matching any school in the island.

Many people devoted their time and energy in seeing to the needs of the school and with a dedicated set of workers the school came up. There were old boys like Divilton Fernando, the late Lakshman de Alwis, Nimal Fernando, Gamini Perera, Dr. Mohanlal Fernando, Sarath Fernando, Brigadier Asoka Perera and Lucky Rogers, just a few names that come to mind in a flash who dedicated themselves to the uplifting the standards of the school on the sports field. If not for the untiring efforts of these stalwarts, Moratu Vidyalaya would not have been able to raise their heads.

If not for the dedicated work done by the stalwarts, the school would not have been able to create a record of achieving thirteen victories in cricket for a season last year.

Gamini Perera who was admitted to the school in 1951 took an active interest in cricket and soon became a versatile cricketer. At the tender age of just 13 year, he was selected to play for the first XI Team. Being the ‘Baby’ of the team for three successive years, he undoubtedly picked up the rudiments of the game from coaches Marakularathne and Ranasuriya and with former Anandian Bertram de Silva also helping, guided Gamini Perera to be a class all-rounder.

The unforgettable moment of his cricket career was when he opened batting and carried his bat through almost three hours scoring only 13 runs against St. Thomas’, Matara scoring his runs in singles. When Moratu Vidyalaya had their Big Match against Methodist High School, Moratumulla and later Sri Sumanagala, Gamini Perera had the distinction of playing against both schools. Gamini Perera had the opportunity of playing in seven ‘Big Matches’ and leading his school in 1958. In 1958 he was picked to represent the Outstation Schools against Colombo Schools in the match played at St. Peter’s College grounds.

Two of the popular umpires messrs Dodwell Soysa and John umpired in the match. Charlie H. Joseph of st. Anthony’s College, Katugastota led the side. Perera then played under Lasantha Rodrigo for the star-studded Moratuwa Schools team against Milkha Singh’s visiting Indian Schools team in 1958.

Bedsides cricket, Gamini Perera was a good athlete and a volleyball player and captained the school team in both athletics and volleyball in 1957 and 1958. He was a field event specialist and won at the Western Province (South) Meet and later represented public schools. Together with Lakshman de Alwis, Nimal Fernando and Mervyn Joseph, he represented public schools in sprint relay.

In 1957/58 Perera led the college volleyball team and the school became district champions.

Gamini Perera was invited by Catamarans Sports Club to play for them in the Sara Trophy Tournament, he preferred to paly for Moratuwa Sports Club with cricketers like D.D. Jayasinghe, R.M. Fernando, Sylvester Dias, Nimal Senaratne and H.I. Fernando.

As fate put it, it was some unfortunate that Gamini Perera became a locomotive engine driver in the Railway Department. It cut short his cricketing career.

In 1963, Moratuwa Sports Club played against the reigning champions - University of Ceylon at Thurstan Road and Gamini perera put on 114 runs with H.I. Fernando for the fifth wicket which enabled them to win and in the return match they beat them and Gamini Perera scored a sedate 83 not out - all in singles which amply shows his patience and frame of mind.

Through out his 46 years in the Railway department, he played in the ‘A’ division and led the side and later in lower divisions too. He played for the State Services. In 1964 he represented Government Services against visiting Madras Cricket Association.

He also played volleyball for Railway and captained the side.

Later, he had a stint with Panadura Sports Club and played Sara Trophy Cricket. He was a somewhat brilliant student of Moratu Vidyalaya and he was ever willing to help the school.

He was a happy man when he told this correspondent that his old school broke the former record and brought the number of victories to 13 last year in under-19 cricket. All the cricket teams - under-13, 15, 17 and 19 are playing in division one. He is a happy man!