Colombo Malays celebrate 140th year

by Ranjan Anandappa

One of the country's oldest cricket playing clubs, the Colombo Malays Cricket Club has made elaborate arrangements to celebrate their 140th year of existence coupled with the 90th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Malay Association on a grand scale with a series of sports and social activities from December 9 to 16 at the Padang, Slave Island.

However, The main objective in their 140th year celebrations is forming of a cricket academy with the support of Sri Lanka Cricket which has being sadly missing for a long standing club like the Malay CC. The club which has a rich heritage and an attachment to Sri Lanka Cricket has still to produce a Test class cricketer. Having this firmly embedded in the club's officials mind they are hoping to launch on this project without much delay. The cricket academy will be opened to everyone, irrespective of caste and creed. Renowned cricket coach Carlton Bernadus will be conducting classes.

The events titled "Padang Games 2012 " will be held at the home of the club the Padang Complex in Slave Island.

The celebrations will begin on December 9 with a Seven-a-Side-Hockey Tournament followed by a six a side cricket tournament on December 15. The following day December 16, will see netball, SepakTakraw the traditional Malay sport which is very popular in Malaysia, softball cricket sixes, and indoor games such as carrom and table tennis.

On the 16th evening, the celebration will reach its zenith with the award ceremony and a Cultural Pageant and the inauguration of the Cricket Academy by the Minister Of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage.

The Malay CC was founded in 1872 - the second oldest club, besides the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) established in 1863 by the Europeans. The Malay CC has also excelled in hockey, producing several players who represented the country.

At a press briefing held at the Malay CC pavilion, Juragan Majid the President of the Sri Lanka Malay Association said that the occasion was a historic one. "

The celebrations are aimed to showcase the historic significance of the Malay CC, as a pioneering Ceylonese cricket club, next only to the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) which was founded in 1863 by Europeans. In the early days, unlike the Malay CC, the CCC limited its membership to its facilities." said Majid.

The president of the Malay CC Yunus Raheem said that the club has existed without sponsors and celebrating the 140th year is something unique. The club has also planned to help 90 school children by providing them with school books, etc."