Features
Sports and Recreation, I get into the Police
(Excerpted from the memoirs of Rtd. Senior DIG Police Edward Gunawardena)
Until the mid fifties there were no organized sports facilities for the youth of the village. However much pleasure was gained by young people particularly males by participating in community activities such as harvesting and threshing, thatching of roofs, New Year celebrations etc.
A remarkable feature of pleasant community living was the harmony in which Christians and Buddhists enjoyed the spirit of Christmas. For about three or four nights continuously Carol Singers from St. Mathew’s Church visited homes, irrespective of religious differences. There were other ad-hoc musical groups some even in fancy dress that visited homes and provided a few minutes of entertainment.
The heavily decorated carol cart that was annually organized by the Headman Lennet Ralahamy drew large crowds on the roads. This carol cart with singers who were well trained, even went up to Moratuwa and sang carols in competition with the Moratuwa carol singers. The support that Lennet Ralahamy received to organize this from even the Buddhists was indeed noteworthy.
Ang adeema and Polgeseema were keenly contested between adult groups known as the Udupila and Yatipila. These traditional contests took place annually and the venue was the Seeniduwa. Significantly the people who participated in these games belonged to the Udupila or Yatipila by birth, a tradition with obscure beginnings.
Villagers turned up in large numbers at Seeniduwa to cheer vociferously for either of the two “pilas” or sides particularly when Ang Adeema took place. What I remember most in this contest was the co-ordinated pulling of a rope, tug-of-war ‘style by the Udupila. This rope was tied to the top of a large columnar post made out of a trunk of a tamarind tree; and with every tug this post which was called the ‘Henakanda’ rocked forward giving a booming sound.
The rivalry between the Udupila and Yatipila was apparent only during this annual contest. There were no arguments or quarrels. It was such healthy rivalry that it resulted more in the promotion of friendship and cordiality than division or animosity. Indeed, it is the curse of party politics that has led to whatever friction that exists or erupts from time to time today.
Football comes to Battaramulla.
In the late forties my brothers and I were keen participants in sports at St. Joseph’s. My eldest brother Owen was a keen sprinter who was a member of the Josephian team that won the Junior Tarbet Cup competition at the Public Schools Athletics Meet when it was introduced for the first time. My brother Irwin was a keen pole vaulter. The coconut land presently occupied by the Maha Vidyalaya which was under my father’s control had sufficient open space for us to run freely. A jumping pit filled with sand and a crude vaulting box was constructed. A 75 yards track was also measured out.
Whilst practicing several track & field items we also started kicking a foot ball about amidst the coconut trees. It was a ball that my father purchased from Diana’s on Chatham St. It was of thick leather with an inflatable tube inside. The lacing of the leather cover was also made of hide. We little realized that this kicking about of a ball was to lead Battaramulla to football fame within three to four years.
Starved of recreation, particularly without a playground in the village, one by one children as well as adults began to join us in the evenings to play football. Even a young priest from Sudassanarama Temple that is on the adjoining land joined in kicking the ball about Leading citizens of the village, Edmund Caldera, Lennet Perera, the village headman, and Edward Rupasinghe also began to take a keen interest. Although Caldera did not play, the other two became keen players. For the first time the youngsters saw the Headman and Rupasinghe dressed in shorts playing with the youth enthusiastically.
By the mid-fifties the Nugegoda District Football league had been formed. The president of the league was that devoted football enthusiast, I.D.M. Van Twest, Superintendent of Police. The Nugegoda league was affiliated to the Ceylon Football Association (CFA) and Van Twest was also a Vice President of the CFA.
There were about six or seven clubs from Maharagama, Kotte, Kalapaluwawa and Rajagiriya affiliated to the Nugegoda league. The most formidable teams were Cotta Park, Red Star and the Nugegoda Police. Red Star had that respected parliamentarian of Kotte the late Stanley Tilakaratna as the patron.
At this time the enthusiasm of the footballers at Battaramulla was very high and they were all eager to play competitive football. However, what was lacking was a formal organization. My brother Irwin was playing for the Colombo University under Peter Ranasinghe. I was playing for Peradeniya. My eldest brother Owen who was a law student enjoyed the game and my younger brother Aelian had the makings of an excellent centre-forward.
P. P. de Silva who was a young engineer at Walkers, Tillekeratne of the Inland Revenue Dept, his brother-in-law Nihal of the Prisons, Leslie Weerakkody who was an engineering student in the University, Jayasena, Munidasa and Premadasa who was the lift operator in the New Secretariat Building formed the backbone of a playing side. Lean and wiry Jayasiri and Muin, a young Malay boy, were daring forwards.
It was in this backdrop that all the football enthusiasts of Battaramulla met one Sunday morning in 1955 under the shade of a large jak tree in the land that we played on. I was on vacation. So was my brother Irwin. The purpose was to form a Football Club and formulate a constitution. With no controversial issues and the camaraderie that existed, the meeting was concluded within hours.
A proposal that the club be named ‘Winger’s Sports Club’ made by me was unanimously adopted and a constitution drafted then and there accepted by all present. Edmund Caldera, Lennet Ralahamy, Edward Rupasinghe, Oliver Almeida and Tony Blake were the architects of the constitution. With my basic knowledge of constitutional law gathered at the lectures of Prof. A.J. Wilson I was able to provide the finishing touches. Edmund Caldera, a senior officer of Ford Rhodes and a respected elder of the village, was unanimously elected The President of the Club.
With a unanimously adopted constitution embodying the basic principles necessary and with a set of office bearers who were all honourable and reputed gentlemen, before a month lapsed Wingers Sports Club was admitted to the Nugegoda Football league.
Within a short space of less than two years Wingers had become a popular outfit drawing large crowds whenever they played. In 1957 captained by my brother Aelian, Wingers went on to beat the much fancied Red Star and Cotta Park and qualify to meet the Nugegoda District Police in the league final.
If I remember right this match was played on a Sunday at the Mirihana Police Grounds. The outer fringes of the grounds were decorated with colourful bunting; and with music relayed from a public address system a carnival atmosphere prevailed. By 4 p.m. large crowds had gathered all round the grounds needing uniformed police to keep the crowd from entering the playing area. The arrival of the chief guest, Osmund de Silva, the Inspector General of Police accompanied by I D M Van Twest, Superintendent of Police, was greeted with crackers.
When the two teams lined up, Wingers in red and yellow jerseys looked smarter than the police team dressed in blue. Police with two or three national players were the favourites. When Mantas, the referee, blew the whistle for the commencement of the game there was a roar from the crowd.
In the tenth minute a sharp drive from midfield by Tillakaratne took the police goalie by surprise. Wingers led from this point onwards until the break. Police played far more aggressively in the second half and equalized through a penalty goal. With a one all draw imminent and about a minute to go P.P. de Silva started dribbling the ball solo from midfield and tapped the ball past the police goal keeper. Wingers had become the Nugegoda District Champions; and the toast of the village of Battaramulla.
The Wingers Football Club had by this time become the foremost social organization in the village. Well organized and with a highly disciplined and honourable membership ‘Wingers’ was able to provide leadership to village community activities such as the weeding and cleaning of the cemetery, organizing musical shows with the Talangama Police, and the removal of salvinia that had invaded the paddy fields. The strengthening of cordiality, goodwill and camaraderie among the youth of the village was indeed the lasting contribution of Wingers. Even today the few core members of Wingers who are living meet often to reminisce the glory days of the Club.
The tragic ending of Wingers as an active organization came about with the waning of enthusiasm of the football enthusiasts resulting from the loss of its playing field and meeting place. With the takeover of this land by the Education Department and the development of the Maha Vidyalaya it became the preserve of the school and declared out of bounds for village activities. All the efforts of Winger’s to use the grounds were of no avail. The greater tragedy is that this playing field is used only once or twice a year for a sports meet or Avurudu Celebration and even the children of the school are not seen using this land regularly for cricket, football or athletics. This ‘dog in the manger’ policy of the education authorities sounded the death knell of an admirable village organization.
Personally I have good reason to remember and cherish this wonderful organization. December 24, Christmas eve 1957, is a date deeply etched in my memory. At about 7 a.m. when I drowsily looked for the Ceylon Daily News which was delivered to our home every morning, I found it shredded to bits by a garden fowl that had settled on it. It was common to see our free run hens lay eggs at all places including chairs and even the beds.
It was indeed typical of an all male home of a motherless foursome of teenage brothers living with their father and grandfather. I had missed the good news that this paper had for me.
However, a few moments later there was a virtual invasion of our home by a large group of members of the Wingers Club led by Walter Rupasinghe, the younger brother of Edward Rupasinghe. The others in the group included Oliver and Ratna Almeida, Marshall, Jayasena, Jayasiri, W.A.C. Perera, P.P. de Silva and Victor Henry. They were all smiles and shouting ‘Congratulations’ all the way.
When my brothers and I expressed surprise, Walter asked me, ‘Did you read the good news in the Daily News? I then showed them the newspaper that was in shreds. But they had brought a copy along. In the front page one of the headlines read, ‘Three New Probationary ASP’s.’ The text read as follows:
“The Public Service Commission has announced the selection of the following three candidates to be appointed as Assistant Superintendents of Police in order of merit: Mr. S.D.E.S Gunawardena, Mr. P. Mahendran and Mr. E.S.R. David.
We all had a sumptuous breakfast of hoppers, String hoppers, sambol and plantains. All this had been brought by the crowd to celebrate the occasion. And then it was back to routine — football until the sun became too hot. Such was the wonderful camaraderie among the membership of Wingers.
I entered the Police Training School Kalutara on the 15` February 1958. Sometime before this date, the Wingers organized a formal reception for me at the residence of Mr. Edmund Caldera who was the President of the Club. Respected citizens of the village too had been invited. It was indeed an evening of music and fun. Several speeches were also made. Many of those present expressed surprise that a young man of 23 had become an Assistant Superintendent of Police.
The highest ranking officer that most of them had seen or heard of was Sub-Inspector V. T. Dickman who was the Officer-in-charge of Welikada Police Station. Battaramulla then came under the Welikada Police. The memento that was presented to me that night was a Gold Capped Parker 51 set. I still have the pen in good condition.
The guest artiste to keep the musical show alive on this occasion was Police Sergeant Wally Bastians. But this reputed baila singer did not know what the occasion was. I was to meet him later when in 1959 1 was attached to Colombo West as the understudy to R.A. Stork who was the ASP of the area. Wally Bastian then was a live wire in the Colombo Traffic Circus that conducted hilarious Street Shows to promote good road manners. It is a great pity indeed that a popular artiste of the caliber of this great exponent of baila could not live to see the cassette and DVD age.
Author
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There’s an ill more dangerous and pervasive than the Coronavirus that’s currently sweeping Sri Lanka. That is the fear to express one’s convictions. Across the public sector of the country in particular many persons holding high office are stringently regulating and controlling the voices of their consciences and this bodes ill for all and the country.
The corrupting impact of fear was discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago when dealing with the military coup in Myanmar. It stands to the enduring credit of ousted Myanmarese Head of Government Aung San Suu Kyi that she, perhaps for the first time in the history of modern political thought, singled out fear, and not power, as the principal cause of corruption within the individual; powerful or otherwise.
To be sure, power corrupts but the corrupting impact of fear is graver and more devastating. For instance, the fear in a person holding ministerial office or in a senior public sector official, that he would lose position and power as a result of speaking out his convictions and sincere beliefs on matters of the first importance, would lead to a country’s ills going unaddressed and uncorrected.
Besides, the individual concerned would be devaluing himself in the eyes of all irrevocably and revealing himself to be a person who would be willing to compromise his moral integrity for petty worldly gain or a ‘mess of pottage’. This happens all the while in Lankan public life. Some of those who have wielded and are wielding immense power in Sri Lanka leave very much to be desired from these standards.
It could be said that fear has prevented Sri Lanka from growing in every vital respect over the decades and has earned for itself the notoriety of being a directionless country.
All these ills and more are contained in the current controversy in Sri Lanka over the disposal of the bodies of Covid victims, for example. The Sri Lankan polity has no choice but to abide by scientific advice on this question. Since authorities of the standing of even the WHO have declared that the burial of the bodies of those dying of Covid could not prove to be injurious to the wider public, the Sri Lankan health authorities could go ahead and sanction the burying of the bodies concerned. What’s preventing the local authorities from taking this course since they claim to be on the side of science? Who or what are they fearing? This is the issue that’s crying out to be probed and answered.
Considering the need for absolute truthfulness and honesty on the part of all relevant persons and quarters in matters such as these, the latter have no choice but to resign from their positions if they are prevented from following the dictates of their consciences. If they are firmly convinced that burials could bring no harm, they are obliged to take up the position that burials should be allowed.
If any ‘higher authority’ is preventing them from allowing burials, our ministers and officials are conscience-bound to renounce their positions in protest, rather than behave compromisingly and engage in ‘double think’ and ‘double talk’. By adopting the latter course they are helping none but keeping the country in a state of chronic uncertainty, which is a handy recipe for social instabiliy and division.
In the Sri Lankan context, the failure on the part of the quarters that matter to follow scientific advice on the burials question could result in the aggravation of Islamophobia, or hatred of the practitioners of Islam, in the country. Sri Lanka could do without this latter phobia and hatred on account of its implications for national stability and development. The 30 year war against separatist forces was all about the prevention by military means of ‘nation-breaking’. The disastrous results for Sri Lanka from this war are continuing to weigh it down and are part of the international offensive against Sri Lanka in the UNHCR.
However, Islamophobia is an almost world wide phenomenon. It was greatly strengthened during Donald Trump’s presidential tenure in the US. While in office Trump resorted to the divisive ruling strategy of quite a few populist authoritarian rulers of the South. Essentially, the manoeuvre is to divide and rule by pandering to the racial prejudices of majority communities.
It has happened continually in Sri Lanka. In the initial post-independence years and for several decades after, it was a case of some populist politicians of the South whipping-up anti-Tamil sentiments. Some Tamil politicians did likewise in respect of the majority community. No doubt, both such quarters have done Sri Lanka immeasurable harm. By failing to follow scientific advice on the burial question and by not doing what is right, Sri Lanka’s current authorities are opening themselves to the charge that they are pandering to religious extremists among the majority community.
The murderous, destructive course of action adopted by some extremist sections among Muslim communities world wide, including of course Sri Lanka, has not earned the condemnation it deserves from moderate Muslims who make-up the preponderant majority in the Muslim community. It is up to moderate opinion in the latter collectivity to come out more strongly and persuasively against religious extremists in their midst. It will prove to have a cementing and unifying impact among communities.
It is not sufficiently appreciated by governments in the global South in particular that by voicing for religious and racial unity and by working consistently towards it, they would be strengthening democratic development, which is an essential condition for a country’s growth in all senses.
A ‘divided house’ is doomed to fall; this is the lesson of history. ‘National security’ cannot be had without human security and peaceful living among communities is central to the latter. There cannot be any ‘double talk’ or ‘politically correct’ opinions on this question. Truth and falsehood are the only valid categories of thought and speech.
Those in authority everywhere claiming to be democratic need to adopt a scientific outlook on this issue as well. Studies conducted on plural societies in South Asia, for example, reveal that the promotion of friendly, cordial ties among communities invariably brings about healing among estranged groups and produces social peace. This is the truth that is waiting to be acted upon.
Author
By Sanjeewa Jayaweera
It was on 3rd January 1972 that our family arrived in Karachi from Moscow. Our departure from Moscow had been delayed for a few weeks due to the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It ended on 16th December 1971. After that, international flights were not permitted for some time.
The contrast between Moscow and Karachi was unbelievable. First and foremost, Moscow’s temperature was near minus 40 degrees centigrade, while in Karachi, it was sunny and a warm 28 degrees centigrade. However, what struck us most was the extreme warmth with which the airport authorities greeted our family. As my father was a diplomat, we were quickly ushered to the airport’s VIP Lounge. We were in transit on our way to Rawalpindi, the airport serving the capital of Islamabad.
We quickly realized that the word “we are from Sri Lanka” opened all doors just as saying “open sesame” gained entry to Aladdin’s cave! The broad smile, extreme courtesy, and genuine warmth we received from the Pakistani people were unbelievable.
This was all to do with Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike’s decision to allow Pakistani aircraft to land in Colombo to refuel on the way to Dhaka in East Pakistan during the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It was a brave decision by Mrs Bandaranaike (Mrs B), and the successive governments and Sri Lanka people are still enjoying the fruits of it. Pakistan has been a steadfast and loyal supporter of our country. They have come to our assistance time and again in times of great need when many have turned their back on us. They have indeed been an “all-weather” friend of our country.
Getting back to 1972, I was an early beneficiary of Pakistani people’s love for Sri Lankans. I failed the entrance exam to gain entry to the only English medium school in Islamabad! However, when I met the Principal, along with my father, he said, “Sanjeewa, although you failed the entrance exam, I will this time make an exception as Sri Lankans are our dear friends.” After that, the joke around the family dinner table was that I owed my education in Pakistan to Mrs B!
At school, my brother and I were extended a warm welcome and always greeted “our good friends from Sri Lanka.” I felt when playing cricket for our college; our runs were cheered more loudly than of others.
One particular incident that I remember well was when the Embassy received a telex from the Foreign inistry. It requested that our High Commissioner seek an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto (ZB), and convey a message from Mrs B. The message requested that an urgent shipment of rice be dispatched to Sri Lanka as there would be an imminent rice shortage. As the Ambassador was not in the station, the responsibility devolved on my father.
It usually takes about a week or more to get an audience with the Prime Minister (PM) of a foreign country due to their busy schedule. However, given the urgency, my father spoke to the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Sectary, who fortunately was our neighbour and sought an urgent appointment. My father received a call from the PM’s secretary around 10 P.M asking him to come over to the PM’s residence. My father met ZB around midnight. ZB was about to retire to bed and, as such, was in his pyjamas and gown enjoying a cigar! He had greeted my father and had asked, “Mr Jayaweera, what can we do for great friend Madam Bandaranaike?. My father conveyed the message from Colombo and quietly mentioned that there would be riots in the country if there is no rice!
ZB had immediately got the Food Commissioner of Pakistan on the line and said, “I want a shipload of rice to be in Colombo within the next 72 hours!” The Food Commissioner reverted within a few minutes, saying that nothing was available and the last export shipment had left the port only a few hours ago to another country. ZB had instructed to turn the ship around and send it to Colombo. This despite protests from the Food Commissioner about terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit prohibiting non-delivery. Sri Lanka got its delivery of rice!
The next was the visit of Mrs B to Pakistan. On arrival in Rawalpindi airport, she was given a hero’s welcome, which Pakistan had previously only offered to President Gaddafi of Libya, who financially backed Pakistan with his oil money. That day, I missed school and accompanied my parents to the airport. On our way, we witnessed thousands of people had gathered by the roadside to welcome Mrs B.
When we walked to the airport’s tarmac, thousands of people were standing in temporary stands waving Sri Lanka and Pakistan flags and chanting “Sri Lanka Pakistan Zindabad.” The noise emanating from the crowd was as loud and passionate as the cheering that the Pakistani cricket team received during a test match. It was electric!
I believe she was only the second head of state given the privilege of addressing both assemblies of Parliament. The other being Gaddafi. There was genuine affection from Mrs B amongst the people of Pakistan.
I always remember the indefatigable efforts of Mr Abdul Haffez Kardar, a cabinet minister and the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. From around 1973 onwards, he passionately championed Sri Lanka’s cause to be admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and granted test status. Every year, he would propose at the ICC’s annual meeting, but England and Australia’s veto kept us out until 1981.
I always felt that our Cricket Board made a mistake by not inviting Pakistan to play our inaugural test match. We should have appreciated Mr Kardar and Pakistan’s efforts. In 1974 the Pakistan board invited our team for a tour involving three test matches and a few first-class games. Most of those who played in our first test match was part of that tour, and no doubt gained significant exposure playing against a highly talented Pakistani team.
Several Pakistani greats were part of the Pakistan and India team that played a match soon after the Central Bank bomb in Colombo to prove that it was safe to play cricket in Colombo. It was a magnificent gesture by both Pakistan and India. Our greatest cricket triumph was in Pakistan when we won the World Cup in 1996. I am sure the players and those who watched the match on TV will remember the passionate support our team received that night from the Pakistani crowd. It was like playing at home!
I also recall reading about how the Pakistani government air freighted several Multi Barrell artillery guns and ammunition to Sri Lanka when the A rmy camp in Jaffna was under severe threat from the LTTE. This was even more important than the shipload of rice that ZB sent. This was crucial as most other countries refused to sell arms to our country during the war.
Time and again, Pakistan has steadfastly supported our country’s cause at the UNHCR. No doubt this year, too, their diplomats will work tirelessly to assist our country.
We extend a warm welcome to Mr Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a truly inspirational individual who was undoubtedly an excellent cricketer. Since retirement from cricket, he has decided to get involved in politics, and after several years of patiently building up his support base, he won the last parliamentary elections. I hope that just as much as he galvanized Sri Lankan cricketers, his political journey would act as a catalyst for people like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to get involved in politics. Cricket has been called a “gentleman’s game.” Whilst politics is far from it!.
Author
Believe me, seeing certain videos, on social media, depicting action, on the dance floor, at some of these entertainment venues, got me wondering whether this Coronavirus pandemic is REAL!
To those having a good time, at these particular venues, and, I guess, the management, as well, what the world is experiencing now doesn’t seem to be their concerned.
Obviously, such irresponsible behaviour could create more problems for those who are battling to halt the spread of Covid-19, and the new viriant of Covid, in our part of the world.
The videos, on display, on social media, show certain venues, packed to capacity – with hardly anyone wearing a mask, and social distancing…only a dream..
How can one think of social distancing while gyrating, on a dance floor, that is over crowded!
If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coronavirus makes its presence felt…at such venues.
And, then, what happens to the entertainment scene, and those involved in this field, especially the musicians? No work, whatsoever!
Lots of countries have closed nightclubs, and venues, where people gather, in order to curtail the spread of this deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands.
Thailand did it and the country is still having lots of restrictions, where entertainment is concerned, and that is probably the reason why Thailand has been able to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
With a population of over 69 million, they have had (so far), a little over 25,000 cases, and 83 deaths, while we, with a population of around 21 million, have over 80,000 cases, and more than 450 deaths.
I’m not saying we should do away with entertainment – totally – but we need to follow a format, connected with the ‘new normal,’ where masks and social distancing are mandatory requirements at these venues. And, dancing, I believe, should be banned, at least temporarily, as one can’t maintain the required social distance, while on the dance floor, especially after drinks.
Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana keeps emphasising, on TV, radio, and in the newspapers, the need to adhere to the health regulations, now in force, and that those who fail to do so would be penalised.
He has also stated that plainclothes officers would move around to apprehend such offenders.
Perhaps, he should instruct his officers to pay surprise visits to some of these entertainment venues.
He would certainly have more than a bus load of offenders to be whisked off for PCR/Rapid Antigen tests!
I need to quote what Dr. H.T. Wickremasinghe said in his article, published in The Island of Tuesday, February 16th, 2021:
“…let me conclude, while emphasising the need to continue our general public health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded gatherings, to reduce the risk of contact with an infected person.
“There is no science to beat common sense.”
But…do some of our folks have this thing called COMMON SENSE!
