Bicycle Racing History of Sri Lanka

by A. C. de Silva

CYCLING: The name Anthony Symons will surely ring a bell in many cyclists ears on the past as he was the one man who really took cycling to his heart and spread the good word throughout the length and breadth of this country. For Anthony Symons cycling came naturally and he has been in active competition from 1958 to 2008.

Ratnapura area has been Anthony Symons domain in cycling here in Sri Lanka.

However, he has been in active competition in other parts of the country and also been in competitions abroad.

Anthony Symons exploits abroad started around 1962 when he participated in the First International 'Cycle Week' in Holland and has made official visits to France and Belgium.

He is quite an experienced personality in cycling and was even called on to speak in english - "Cycling as a Sport in Sri Lanka" to a vast gathering in the "Rai" International Congress Hall in Amsterdam.

Now Symons has gone on to the next step - writing a book on cycling. The Bicycle Racing History of Sri Lanka. This book caters to the period 1950 to 2010 and it is both in English and Sinhalese. The book contains details of the growth of the sport here and the performances of our cyclists in foreign countries. All details of cycling from the inception of the sport in Sri Lanka in the book and it will be on the news stands shortly. This book will be published in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports. Symons requests all past cyclists during the period 1950-1960 to send him details regarding their performances with pictures if possible, so that the book will be of immense value.

Anthony Symons could be contacted at the following address: P. Anthony Symons, No. 26 1/1, Church Road, Ratnapura. Tel: 045-2222725 or 045-2230464.