When the Sugathadasa Stadium was first built

A recent news item had it that the Sugathadasa Stadium is to be given a billion rupee face-lift so as to host a segment of the Youth Asian Games 2017. A proposal was put forward by the Sports Ministry and the Sugathadasa Sports Authority and it has received Treasury approval thanks to Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera.

The giving of the face-lift to the Sugathadsa Stadium brings to mind the very concept of the Stadium. It was the brainchild of the first Minister of Sports who was also the Minister of Nationalized Services in the UNP Dudley Senanayake Government V.A. Sugathadasa. This was in the mid 1960s, if my memory serves me right.

Before proceeding to elaborate on the coming to being of the stadium, the writer would like to give a brief on our very first Sports Minister V.A.Sugathadasa. Hailing from my alma mater St.Benedict's College, Kotahena, he was a brilliant striker in football playing for the first team and was also a champion wrestler.

Need for a Sports Ministry

When the UNP Government was formed by Dudley Senanayake in 1966 who himself was a versatile sportsman there arose a need for a Ministry of Sport and Dudley Senanayake had no need to search for a Minister to head the Ministry because he had a sportsman in his cabinet and that was V.A. Sugathadasa. Then with sport gaining in popularity the need arose for a stadium. Sugathadasa then struck upon the idea and commissioned a dumping ground adjoining the Prince of Wales Park which was then cleared, built and was named the V.A.Sugathadasa Stadium.

Sugathadasa floodlit the stadium and it catered to football and athletics and many an international soccer team played at the new stadium. Many international athletes too ran on that track. The Southern Football Pentangular tournament was also played at the stadium.

When the Stadium went into ruin

But after a few years the Stadium went into rack and ruin. The stands collapsed in many sections of the stadium and sport came to a standstill. I was then the Sports Editor of the 'Times' and in my column 'SPORTSCOPE' and in several articles called on the then Prime Minister and Minister of Housing and Construction R.Premadasa who was also a footballer to move in and re-do the stadium. A footballer, keen sports fan and a promoter, the Prime Minister called a meeting of the business community at the Sugathadasa Stadium, and explaining the project to the business community requested them to contribute lavishly for this worthy cause.

The businessmen pledged their financial support and it was not long when Premadasa set the ball rolling to reconstruct the stadium to international standard, with no cost to the government. As a first step he put Sirisena Cooray to head the project and work went on apace and it was not long when a completely new stadium to international standard was completed. That was in 1991. Premadasa staged a grand opening and the stadium was packed to capacity and while delivering his speeches in all three languages singled me out and mentioned my name saying that it was I who had given him the idea to revamp the stadium and that he needs journalists like me to give him ideas. The 'Daily News' carried that story.

Trolley Bus Garage into a Stadium

Not satisfied with that, Premadasa then turned the Trolley Bus Garage that was next to the stadium and on it built the R.Premadasa International Indoor Stadium. Talking of the old trolley bus garage brings to mind when former Olympic boxer who was the then President of the Amateur Boxing Association Eddie Gray conducting the Asian Boxing Championships at the site.

And now with bigger events on the cards at the Sugathadasa International Stadium, surely the stadium needs a restoration. And it is heartening to note the getting together of the Sports Ministry and the Sugathadasa Sports Authority to do it up so that a segment of the Asian Youth Games could be held there.

Sports fans will also say a big thank you to Treasury Secretary P.B.Jayasundera for granting one billion rupees for the project to be completed. The stadium to international standard is a crying need and it is hoped that once completed no room will be left for questions to be asked.

'Voice of cricket' celebrates birthday

Popularly known as the 'Voice of cricket' Premasara Epasinghe turns - all the sevens - 77 today, Sunday, October 5. His loving and caring wife Swarna says big celebrations have been lined up to mark the occasion.

Epasinghe in addition to his dexterity behind the mic describing cricket sported the Nalanda College cap with great success playing cricket in the mid 1950s in the team led by that eye-catching and consistent scoring batsman Chandrasiri Weerasinghe. He was opening batsman and stumper.

Epasinghe later shone for the University, Saracens, Nondescripts CC, Bloomfield and Bank of Ceylon. He served as a gradguate teacher at his old school in the 60s and was Prefect of Games and Master-in-charge of cricket. He also coached and many of his products played for Sri Lanka.

First behind the mic in 1971

Epasinghe first got behind the mic in 1971 and had the distinction of commentating on Tests and ODIs till 2013. It was he who took cricket to the villages with his expert commentaries. Today he is a reputed international commentator. On many occasions he has given commentaries from abroad.

In 2010 he served in the Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee. He toured with the Sri Lanka team as representative to Zimbabwe and Australia. Recently SLC and Dialog in their cricket awards ceremony made an outstanding award to Epa in appreciation of his extraordinary long service to cricket and dedication of his profession for the promotion of cricket in SL.

Epasinghe is one of the leading marketing personalities in the country and is a reputed lecturer in Marketing Management.He is also a prolific writer on many subjects and an author. To honour Epa,' Swarnavahini' will telecast a special programme titled - 'Life' today from 8.a.m. We wish Epa many more birthdays.

Hockey player Hulangamuwa writes

Apropos my column 'SPORTSCOPE' last Sunday headlined - SRI LANKA HOCKEY HUMILIATED AT ASIAN GAMES - where I mentioned the shame on the game at the ongoing Asian Games, I went down memory lane and down to the 1960s when hockey in the country was at its best, and after reading it, Eric Hulangamuwa a former Sri Lanka hockey player and a former Matale Thomian captain writes saying that after a very long time he had read a hockey article on Sunday.

He also mentions that I had failed to mention that Matale was known as the cradle of hockey, the Edward Park Hockey Stadium and St.Thomas' College, Matale and when every national team had at least 3 to 4 from STCM and goes on to mention names.

I had mentioned the illustrious players who hailed from Matale. Hulungamuwa mentions the names of Sunil Deegawatura, Sarath Wimalasinghe, Ranjit Alahakoon, Dr.Thilak Ranaweera, P.H. Hettiarachi, Farook Mohotar, Chandra Wijekoon, K. Soundaranayagam, Mahendra Ramanadan, Sq Ldr. C.K. Hulangamuwa and M. Kulandeveloo as also having contributed to the game.

Hulangamuwa also informs me that the All island 7-a-Side Inter-Schools Hockey Tournament was held in Matale and also that they tributed past hockey players in Herbert and Ranjit Wijekoon, Sarath Wimalasinmghe, Ranjit Alahakoon, Sunil Deegawatura, Dr. Thilak Ranaweera, G.H. Jayatissa, J.M. Farook, R.S. Somasekeram, P.H.Hettiarachi in recognition of their contributions to the game.

Thank you and it was nice hearing from you Eric.

ENJOY LIFE NOW. IT HAS AN EXPIRY DATE ON IT.

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