UNP Chairman Malik, a great rugby promoter

By Dinesh Weerawansa

Well-known business and sports personality Malik Samarawickrema has returned to the saddle as Chairman of the ruling United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The UNP chairmanship is nothing new to Malik who served in the same capacity many years earlier. His presence as party chairman will be a sign of relief for the Prime Minister in party matters as they have a great understanding as classmates.

Another proud product of Royal College, Colombo, Malik is equally popular as an ardent UNP activist and a great sports promoter. Malik is better known in rugby circles as a player, coach and an administrator.

But only a few in the sports arena are aware that Malik captained his alma mater in Athletics, besides his lavish contributions during his school career as a brilliant rugby player. As a versatile sportsman during his school career, Malik went on to captain Marsh House of Royal College in 1968.

Malik, an FCMA has served as an advisor to the Prime Minister, treasurer and general secretary of the party, earning the trust of the UNP seniors. He has been a pioneer in the garment industry and a household name in garment and rugby circles.

He made his Bradby Shield debut for Royal College under Mousey Thurairatnam in the Second Leg encounter against Trinity College in 1966 and went on to play for the Reid Avenue school with distinction under Jeremy Perera in 1967 and under C.R. De Silva in 1968.

The brilliant Royal scrum half later turned out for CR & FC and Sri Lanka.

He played for Royal as a scrum half from 1966 to 1968 along with Jagath Fernando, H.C.P. Malwatte, A.J. Yusuf, B. Livera, C.R. de Silva, D.J. Perera, R.Thurairatnam, Brian Baptist M. Devkumar, N.M. Jamion, A.J., Yusuf, J. Jilla, L.A.I de Silva, F.R. Perera and G. Mohamed to name a few.

Malik later played a key role in rugby promotion. Besides his prominent roles in promoting the game though numerous ways including lavish sponsorships, he has also served as coach and respected administrator. He has made a praise-worthy contribution to the game, coaching Royal and also as an administrator being the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU).

During his tenure as Sri Lanka as rugby chief, he took every possible step to promote the game outside Colombo.

The game which was mainly confined to the a few affluent Colombo clubs was taken to the hill capital in a big way under Malik’s leadership. Although the game had existed in Kandy for many years, the brightest era in hill capital rugby dawned after Malik stepped in to promote Kandy Sports Club in a big way.

In next to no time, Kandy Sports Club emerged from nowhere to become an invincible force in local premier league rugby, destroying the dominance of Colombo-based clubs such as CH & FC and CR & FC.

He could rightly be called the godfather of Kandy rugby, as his entry for the promotion of the game in the hill capital changed the destiny of local inter-club rugby.

Not only outstanding school rugby players of Trinity, Kingswood and Vidyartha found lucrative deals with their careers, employment and sponsorship to play for Kandy SC, but their counterparts in Colombo too showed a keen interest in turning out for the Nittawela club.

This was purely due to the single-handed efforts of Malik who found sponsorships to take good care of players, ensuring their future. Malik has served the game for over four decades, making an incomparable contribution to promote the game as a player, coach and an administrator.

The dominance Kandy SC enjoys now is purely due to the superb foundation Malik gave to the Nittawela club, beginning from nowhere at a time when the club was at the bottom of the ‘A’ division John Player League. His vision and devotion paid rich dividends and elevated Kandy SC to the pinnacle of local rugby to remain as the undisputed kings of local rugby.

Kandy SC won the Triple Crown in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, League Champions 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. - 15 times in 19 outings in a row - from 1994 to 2011) Clifford Cup Knockout Tournament - in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2002,2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 - 19 times 20 outings in a row. Those records were made possible as Malik played a foster father role by looking into the well-being of the players.

Malik’s lavish sponsorships enabled Kandy SC to set new standards by introducing the international sevens tournament. The Singer-SriLankan Airlines International rugby 7s organised by Kandy SC, has gained IRB recognition, thus putting Sri Lanka as a most sought-after venue in the international rugby map.

Malik has also played for the Low Country in the Capper Cup game against Up-Country and was a member of the Sri Lanka President’s XV. He hung up his boots in 1977 and took up coaching, assisting CR & FC and his alma mater, Royal.

Players of Kandy SC responded well to the contribution made by their ‘godfather’ by winning as many titles as possible during the last two decades. Kandy SC has won the major domestic tile from 1997 to 2009. They have also won the President’s Trophy Knockout Tournament with the exception of the 1998 series, narrowly losing to CR & FC 26-30 in the final.