Sports 'sported' their love affair

Badra speaks of life with athlete Sriyani Dhammika Menike:

It was around 5.00 a.m. of a day in mid or late 1980s. A teenager was jogging along a by-road of Walahanduwa behind a push-cycle proceeding before her. Sometime the stray dogs who used to wake up with the dawn would follow the two figures that were moving briskly. So the cyclist had an extra duty of chasing them away as well.

The teenager was on practice for a forth coming inter-school running event. The cyclist was her father. He was proceeding along with his daughter as the sun had not risen and the darkness prevailed.

Many years later, that father with his wife (her mother) shed tears when their daughter broke the Sri Lankan record for 1500m at the SAF Games in 1991, and 800m at Barcelona Olympics held in Spain in 1992.

The record of 1500m belonged to her until last November. But, she still holds the 800m record which has not been beaten nor broken for the past 16 years. Sriyani Dhammika Menike is the Lotus flower that bloomed in the sports field from an under-privileged background and spread its fragrance all over. Badra Seneviratne, her husband discloses a few events in her life which were not mentioned before but yet are memorable.

"It was 1991. I met Sriyani first at the International Grounds, Galle. I was captaining Nomads Cricket Club and was at a match. It was the time for warming up, a few moments before the match.

Somebody brought me a newspaper and showed me an article of Sriyani Dhammika Menike who had received a sum of money to repair her house from the then Prime Minister, R. Premadasa. The person who brought the paper article pointed at a girl there and said,' 'Badie, she is the girl,' begins Badra.

"Dhammi was there at the same ground at running practices. I thought of having a word with her. She was a pleasant girl. She said she would be coming to the Torrington sports complex hostel to further her practises within a few days time. I told her to call me if she needs any help as I was also in and out of the premises," says Badra.

So, the duo used to bump into each other often at the Torrington grounds. After about two weeks Dhammika went to Malaysia to attend a meet. "I gave a few dollars and asked her to bring something from Malaysia if possible. So, as she got off from her flight on her return, she gave me a call from the Katunayake Air Port. That time I felt she was developing some interest in me," reminisces Badra.

Question: How do you feel about her?

Badra: I thought it's always better to have a girl who knows the bitter side of life. Dhammi has come up in life through hardships and difficulties. So, did I. My father died when I was 14 years.

There are four in my family including my elder brother, my twin brother and younger sister. And it was my mother who looked after us facing many difficulties.

Badra de Silva Seneviratne was born on September 5 in 1964 at Hirimbura, Galle, to Henry de Silva Seneviratne, Rubber Surveyor and Mallika Luvina. Though his mother first worked as an English teacher, she later quit as she decided to be a full-time mother and housewife. Bad fortune fell on their nest with his father's death.

Their lives which were once full of benevolence seemed fallen apart. "My mother decided to work as a supervisor at a Garment Factory as she had no other choice. I can remember paddling the push cycle keeping her on the front bar of the cycle around 5.00 am, and then bringing her back late in the night after her shift duties.

We all faced difficulties. But my mother never got discouraged, and was a pillar that stood tall giving shelter under her umbrella. She lived according to the Dhamma, and was a very kind-hearted person. Her qualities might have made us also to follow the correct path," he says.

"My eldest brother and sister realised that destiny was in our own hands and so we went into higher education. My eldest brother is an Electronic Engineer and my sister is a Computer Analyst. Both live in Australia with our mother.

We are very happy to see her doing well now. Even at present she is involved in religious activities in Australia. Every year, she goes to India with her friends on pilgrimage," says Badra with a lot of emotions that was pouring out from his soul emerged with gratitude towards his mother.

"But however, my twin brother (who is today a Quality Controller in a prominent private company), and I were very mischievous, and always lent towards the sports. I was an athlete and took part in many circuit meets when I was in school both at St.Aloysius College, Galle, Methodist High School, Moratuwa and Prince of Wales, Moratuwa. Cricket was my forte out of all, and continued it through out up to club level. I captained Nomads from 1991 to 1996," says Badra.

"After O/Ls I decided to find a job and for a short time I worked at Amico Industries, and then got an appointment as a Sports Officer at the Colombo Municipality in 1988. I worked as a District Coach as well. I was very happy as I could help many schoolchildren who needed help in the sports line through my appointments in the sports field.

So, in 2002, Bandula Warnapura asked me to take up an appointment as the Venue Co-ordinator of the Cricket Board. So I did, and have been continuing it to date," says Badra.

Muhandiramlage Don Sriyani Dhammika Menike was born on February 3 in 1970, the eldest child of M.D.Premasiri and P.K.Nandani. She has a younger brother and a sister.

Dhammika had her education at Upananda Maha Vidyalaya, Walahanduwa. She has captained every sport event that took place at school; Swimming, Netball, Volleyball, Elle and even the village cricket team... After sitting for the A/Ls in the Commerce stream she devoted herself full time to sports.

She has participated in over 30 International meets including the 800m event at Barcelona in 1992, for which she still holds the unbeaten record. In recognition of her talents, the Sri Lankan Government offered her with an honorary title of 'Deshashakthi' last year.

Question: Both of you are in sports associated. I think it's wonderful when both are in the same field?

Badra: Yes, we know everybody connected in the sports field since I moved into club cricket. We have common friends.

We got married on July 28 in 1993. And now we are parents of four kids - two sons; Nadun(11) and Senuda(9) and twin daughters(5); Methara and Sethara. Our eldest son is already in the under 13 cricket team at St.Sebestian College, Moratuwa. Dhammika is now retired from active sports, and is working as a Banking Assistant in the Hatton National Bank for the past 10 years.

Question: Especial qualities you see in her?

Badra: She is extremely courageous and frank. She has a good command of the language is able give relevant speeches when she attend functions as the chief guest and so on.

I'm very happy that I married her as she is the best suitable woman for me (laughs). It's not a joke because I always believe that it's easy to get along with a partner who has common interests and a similar background.

Both she and I faced hardships when we were youngsters, but we were brought up with love and kindness. So, we both raise our children also according to that theory though our kids are luckier with many privileges than when we were of that age.

Badra who is nicknamed as Badhie, can be seen attending to all the in-house matters once a Cricket match is on.

A Venue-Coordinator's duty is immense though the spectators not the viewers who see Cricket through the TV camera eye would never realise it. People like Badie play a great role in that way behind the screens to keep our Cricket on international standard.

Charity is Badra's forte, and would strech a helping hand to anybody at any hour.

Question: Let me ask something as a final question. Well, what are the pastimes of both of you?

Badra: I like singing. My favourite song is Milton Mallawarachchi's...

'Oba dan keewath Kandulu sala

Mata Aadarai kiya..

Hitha giya thanakata thuruluwela

Manike novenu mula...'

Question: Oh! your wife name is also 'Manike', is that right? So ....?

Badra: You want to know whether the song and she have any connection? (laughs) ..No...No.. I just like it. I like Milton's and Jothi's songs a lot.Dhammi likes gardening, swimming and designing handicrafts.

We both love to go for a jogging early in the morning at the Tyronne Fernando Grounds, Moratuwa. We do it at least four days in the week as it keep us healthy.

Question: Hope you have no problems from stray dogs as it happened when Dhammika was practising at her village when she was a teenager.

Badra: Certainly not (laughs)... But, sometimes when jogging, she reminisces, the hard times she went through. But all that have turned to happy memories in her life. If you have the will and devotion, the victory is not that far.