Wijeweera - a really dedicated gymnastic coach

by Dilwin MENDIS - Moratuwa Sports Corr.

GYMNASTICS: When one becomes really dedicated towards a sport, age is no barrier and this is so of V.A. Wijeweera - in the 70 to 80 age bracket who has retired being an Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, but keeps himself occupied by guiding young people in furthering their interest in gymnastics.

He was first at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda and then joined Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa where he took a keen interest in Gymnastics and he had the good fortune to have Leslie Handunge as his mentor and mastered the finer points on gymnastics from him.

Prince of Wales started a gymnastic club and Wijeweera became the first secretary. After leaving Prince of Wales, Wijeweera got an appointment as a Physical Training Instructor at Maradana Central and he introduced gymnastics to the school. He was also in charge of the school cadet platoon and was also involved in other sports activities, especially football.

But gymnastics was his first choice and he organised the first coaching camp at Royal College with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Sports. There were around 100 boys from various schools and clubs and there were around 50 instructors too and they were given a training.

The Ministry of Sports were keen in popularising the sport called on Wijeweera in 1967 to go to the German Democratic Republic to be trained in Gymnastics. He qualified and obtained a diploma and returned to Sri Lanka and was enlisted in the Ministry of Sports.

He was appointed by the Ministry of Sports as the Sports Officer in Charge of gymnastics and he was put in charge of the training of the Police, the three Armed Services and Universities.

In 1970 Wijeweera was appointed as the National Coach of Gymnastics and in 1972 a gymnasium was built for Gymnastics and the sport somewhat flourished. Then in 1975 under the Sports Law, a National Gymnastic Association was formed and he was also instrumental in getting the schools Gymnastic Association formed so that the sport can be taken to the length and breadth of the country.

When it came for Wijeweera to retire from the Ministry of Sports, the then Minister of Sports S.B. Dissanayake induced Wijeweera to serve as Administrative Secretary of the Gymnastic Association so that the sport can flourish still further in Sri Lanka.

So, it can be seen that V.A. Wijeweera has contributed much for the development of gymnastics in the island. So, this grand old man of Gymnastics has contributed much of his life for the progress of the sport in Sri Lanka and though he is in his seventies, he is still hail and hearty and lives at Bolgoda Gardens, Bolgoda in Gorakana, Moratuwa.

Pic:Moratuwa Sports Corr.