Percy and Dharmasiri two great Trinity Sportsmen

by Hafiz Marikar

Can you remember Percy and Dharmasiri Madugalle brothers, both were two of those Trinitians who were destined for sporting fame and greatness. Their father S.B. Madugalle captained Trinity rugger team in 1912, and according to records he is the first Rugger Lion winner.

Percy Madugalle - won his rugger colours in 1937 along with H. Aserappa, W.L. Jirasinghe, T.B. Marambe, D. Reith, V.K. Vellayan and D. White bother Dharmasiri won his rugger colours in 1951 and led the school in 1953. Percy was good in both cricket and rugger, his first year at rugby was in 1936 under O.L. Izzadeen. In the following year 1937, too, he played under O.L. Izadeen. The rugby fixtures were against, Zahira, St. Peters and Royal. Percy was tipped to lead the rugger team in 1938, but he left school soon after the cricket season in order to study for his London Matriculation.

At school, cricket was his favourite game, he played along with J.F. Halangoda, T.B. Marambe, S.G. Perera, H.A. S. Ratwatte, D. Reith, G.P. Schoorman, R. P de Alwis, C. Dharmalingam. He won the coveted Cricket Lion in 1938 along with T.B. Marmabe, and G.P. Schoorman. In 1938, he made a fine 127 against S. Thomas' College, that is the highest score he has made, in 1937 he scored a 54 against S. Thomas' College then in 1938, against Wesley College he made 69.

In the 1930's Trinity played cricket with only five schools. They are S. Thomas', Royal, Wesley, St. Josephs and St. Anthony's. He was also a good boxer for the school along with M.S. Daniel, L.D. Perera, J.S. David, H.M.A. Wahid. He was also an athlete.

After serving in the North and East, he came to Kandy in 1950's. His mentor Philip Buultjens wanted Percy to play rugger and cricket for Kandy Sports Club, at a time the 'Whites' were dominating.

He first played under David Currie, and his brother Dharmasiri too, was playing for Kandy Sports Club. During that time one of the greatest rugby promoters Noel Gratiaen (for who's trophy the Colombo Schools - Outstation Schools rugger match is played), wanted the authorities who were handling the game to come forward to organise a Ceylonese team to play in the All India tournament.

At that time CH & FC were playing in the All-India Tournament, and also there was an "Whites" team and the Ceylonese Team had players like Percy Madugalle Willie Ratnavale, Fred Kellar, Percy Perera, Clair Roeloff, Archibald Perera, Ray de Zilva, Percy de Zilva. Dharmasiri Madugalle - One of the Trustees of Kandy Sports Club, he became the first captain of the club to become President. He was outstanding ruggerite and athlete at Trinity from 1951 to 1953.

He was one of the finest wing-three quarters. Under his leadership Trinity won the Bradby 13-0 and 3-0.

He was a good athlete and had the privilege of leading both the rugger and the athletic teams in 1952 and 1953.

Dharmasiri's pet sport was rugby. As a Schoolboy, he played for Kandy Sports Club and Up-Country. He played for Kandy Sports Cub from `1953 to 1961 without a 'break'. He was in the Kandy Sports Club's first cup final team in 1954 and also in the following year 1955.

In 1960 he led the Kandy Sports Club team; with Maurice Perera as his deputy.

He was a member of the Sri Lanka team from 1955 to 1965. In 1966 he led the Up-Country.