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| Sunday, 20 October 2002 |
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Eighth death anniversary falls on October 23 : Gamini Dissanayake Sri Lanka's man for all seasons The immense service rendered by Gamini Dissanayake towards the economic revival of the country is too well known and in the field of sport, and cricket in particular, his contribution has been tremendous and a separate chapter titles, "The History of Cricket in Sri Lanka - Gamini Dissanayake Era" could be written. by PREMASARA EPASINGHE Be it in the field of agriculture or cricket, there is one name that has been firmly rooted in this island for taking the country forward. That name is the late Gamini Dissanayake, Minister and President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka whose eighth death anniversary falls on October 23.
The immense service rendered by Gamini Dissanayake towards the economic revival of the country is too well known and in the field of sport, and cricket in particular, his contribution has been tremendous and a separate chapter titles, "The History of Cricket in Sri Lanka - Gamini Dissanayake Era" could be written. He was appointed as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka on two occasions. The period from 1981 to 1989 could be termed the 'Golden Era' of cricket in Sri Lanka. Again he was picked in 1994. He was the President of the Cricket Board for eleven long years - the longest period of office after late Mr. Robert Senanayake. There were many achievements of Gamini Dissanayake. But the greatest of them all in the field of cricket was gaining 'Test Status' for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was fortunate to have gained 'Test Status' due to Gamini Dissanayake's discerning intelligence, noble personality, clarity of speech and eloquence, efficiency and far-sighted wisdom. The delegates who attended the conference of the International Cricket Council at Lord's in London, were fascinated by the speech he delivered on behalf of Sri Lankan cricket. The facts placed before them were so convincing, that they could no longer exclude Sri Lanka from the Test arena. Immediately thereafter the two delegates from Pakistan and India proposed and seconded the resolution to grant 'Test Status' in the International Council to Sri Lanka. Owing to this invaluable service rendered by him, the name of Gamini Dissanayake will remain inseparably linked with the game of cricket, as long as cricket continues to be played in Sri Lanka. It was in about 1832 that cricket came to Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon then) when the British came here and by late 1800's cricket became popular in the country. Fortunately for the country, from the outset, the administration and management of Sri Lanka cricket was handled by those who loved the game and were dedicated to it. Notable among them were: John Rochwook, P. Saravanamuttu, Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake, John Kotelawala, President J.R. Jayewardene, President R. Premadasa, Robert Senanayake, T.B. Werapitiya, Dr. N.M. Perera, Lakshman Jayakody and Tyronne Fernando. In the latter years, people like Ana Punchihewa, P.I. Pieris, Upali Dharmadasa and Thilanga Sumathipala. The Gamini Dissanayake era will most certainly be recognised as the most significant period in the history of cricket in Sri Lanka. Gamini Dissanayake once mentioned that working, as the President of the Cricket Board was far more of a challenge than attending to the functions of the Mahaweli Ministry. However, he was far superior to the others, in the way he carried out the functions of the Cricket Board. His ability lay in the fact that he was instrumental in drawing together and uniting people who held varying views, so that the management and administration of the Cricket Board was directed solely for the development of the game. Gamini Dissanayake 's aim was to provide equal opportunities to everyone. He treated all children as if they were his own. He had received a letter from a 12-year-old boy from his father's village saying that he would like to come to Colombo to play cricket. So, the boy was got down during the school holidays and coached by Lionel Mendis at the NCC School of Cricket. And according to reports, Gamini Dissanayake was instrumental in giving an opportunity to this boy to receive his education at a leading school in Kandy. National monument As Gamini Dissanayake loved the children of the Mahaweli settlers, he provided playgrounds for their use and thereby made them happy and contented. He was responsible for the construction of the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, as the nerve centre of the game of cricket, at Maitland Place, Colombo 7. The Indoor Cricket Complex was also put up along with it. Furthermore, he took the initiative in inaugurating the Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation to look after the welfare of our cricketers. A library was also started at its premises. Trinity College, Kandy is not only an educational institution but also a national monument of this country. Through the years, it has served this country by producing a well disciplined student population, full of varying capabilities. The Asgiriya playground contributed in no small measure in moulding the character of Trinitians in their formative years. This Trinity College playground at Asgiriya, where young Gamini Dissanayake as a schoolboy learned the basics of sports, was transformed into the historical Asgiriya Cricket Stadium, a Test venue, replete with all the modern facilities available anywhere in the world. Gamini Dissanayake should undoubtedly be held in the highest esteem for this achievement. Another notable feature of the services rendered by Gamini Dissanayake is the construction of playgrounds at Galnewa, Bakamuna, Dehiattakandiya, Welikanda and Embilipitiya etc., enabling the Mahaweli settlers of those areas to engage in sports activities. Today, they remain as silent symbols commemorating his glorious name. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Gamini Dissanayake was born to serve the country of his birth. He held
such high profile ministerial posts such as Irrigation, Power
(electricity), Highways and Construction, Land, Land Development and
Mahaweli Development and in later years Plantation Industries and he had
such a pleasant and charismatic personality that he was able to get the
best out from the workers and the construction of huge reservoirs like
Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantembe, Ulhitiya, Rathkinda and
Maduruoya and a large number of canals and waterways such as the Southern
Bank Canal and Nava Jayaganga brought immense joy and relief to the
masses.
