Colombo Gymkhana Club celebrates 150 years on a grand scale

by Ranjan Anandappa

Located in the vicinity of two of the the oldest clubs SSC and NCC who are also over a hundred years old, CCC or the Colombo Cricket Club has gone beyond well over 180 years.Its parent club - the Colombo Gymkhana Club will be celebrating their 150th year (1863 to 2013) of excellence with a series of activities on a grand scale.

The Colombo Gymkhana Club, which consists of CH&FC (Colombo Hockey & Football Club), CCC (Colombo Cricket Club) and the Queens Club (Tennis) have launched a year long plan to celebrate this momentous occasion.It all started at Galle Face Green by a few Britishers in the middle of the 19th century by establishing a club named the Colombo Club and later relocated to find it's permanent home at Maitland Crescent in Colombo 7. Horse Racing, Cricket, Football, and Rowing were the earliest sports activities for the members. Eventually in 1959 , the Colombo Cricket Club,(CCC), the Colombo Hockey And Football Club (CH&FC), and the Queen's Tennis Club combined to form the Colombo Gymkhana Club. Celebrating the glorious past of the Colombo Gymkhana Club where hundreds of members have benefited, the New Committee headed by Shiran Anthony (Chairman), Russell Kerkovan (Vice-Chairman), Prashantha Wimalasena (Secretary), Sarath Ganegoda (Treasurer) and a team of efficient EX-Co Members is set to steer the club into the future with a renewed contemporary agenda and enhance facilities to cater to the present membership that is made up by all communities. "History and tradition are key elements as we mark a major milestone in a manner worthy of the Gymkhana reputation. I consider it is an honour to serve this organisation which will continue to reach out to every community and the expatriates who make Colombo their temporary home.

We have planned a year long agenda to enliven our message of friendship and fellowship'. Said Shiran Anthony, the Chairman of the club."We are continuing the legacy which has left behind.

We are the trustees for what the Britishers have left behind. We had our ups and downs, no club can exist unblemished for 150 years. The club had it's good times in the 1980 and 1990's" said Anthony.

One of the main segments in the celebration program is competitions between Gymkhana Clubs from other countries like India, Pakistan, Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore who have the same vintage. The shorter versions of Cricket (T20), Rugby (7-a-side), and Hockey (7-a-side).The club house at CCC was refurbished to celebrate the 150th year. It has been named as the 'Horton Pavilion', in honour of the governer who initiated the creation. The lay out of the new lobby area is bigger and has more space with a panoramic view of the cricket field. The décor is bound to captivate who ever enters the premises with it's theme 'simplicity, vintage and southern comforts'. The colour,texture and high roof of the interior will lift the spirit at any time of the day. It is a cozy cove at night, where the warm spirit and friendship prevail.

To keep the services on par with with the structural developments the committee has upgraded the 'reputed good kitchen' to be better. The air conditioned pub with it's 'English ambience' is called the 'Maitland Pub'.The Gymkhana membership is a family concern one which has been the tradition. The spouse and the children are entitled to the club facilities. The 'Horton Pavilion' can be the family roof for transit, stopovers, a gathering point for lunches, tea, and a very good starting point for walks along the vastly developed Independence Square and Racecourse.

The Gymkhana Club is very keen to have the services to the membership enhanced. The Gymkhana Club is a strong one which enhances the image of the city which has been housed for 150 years and it will live true to the spirit and deeds.