Jayasinghe twins - from active sports to sports administration

by Upananda JAYASUNDERA - Kandy Sports Special Corr.

TWIN BROTHERS: It is rare to find twins climb the ladder of success in sports and continue in sports administration after their playing days are over. However, in Gamini and Tissa Jayasinghe of Dharmaraja College, Kandy has brought out two sportsmen in these twins in the 1970s.

Younger brother Tissa is an International Hockey Coach who followed FIH (Federation of International Hockey) course in 1999 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also coached the National Women's Hockey Team that toured Tailand in 1996.

He also officiated at the Hockey Nationals from 1978 to 1990.

Tissa represented State Services hockey team that toured Malaysia and Singapore in 1996.

He is the Asst. Secretary of the State Services Hockey Association and Vice-President of the Kandy District Hockey Association.

He is also interested in cricket and served as the Vice-President of the Kandy District Cricket Association for a number of years.

The other brother - Gamini led the champion State Services hockey team to victory and played as the centre forward. He is the present Secretary of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation. As Secretary, he had a hand in organising the National Hockey Tournament for over 10 years.

Right now Gamini Jayasinghe is the Treasurer of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.

The twins-Gamini and Tissa are attached to the Prisons Department as Assistant Superintendents. Tissa is attached to the Open Prison Camp at Pallekelle and Gamini is at Galle Prisons.