Memories of Caring Cricketers

Rex Clementine’s story of Pulina Tharanga “How cricket looked after an orphan and made him a star”, struck a chord, in my being. It also illustrated that there are, and always will be, good people in Sri Lanka. They only need spurring or cajoling to take part in public life.

As John Stuart Mills said so eloquently “bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing”.

In 1905, Roger Knight (RK) then Secretary and Chief Executive of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), visited Sri Lanka and handed over a big donation, the proceeds of a charity cricket match at Lords. The initial decision was to give it to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, but on second thoughts, it was delivered to three individuals of integrity and professionalism. They were to be the honorary trustees of an account set up by the MCC: Vijaya Malalasekare (VM), Mano Ponniah (MP) and Ajith Dias. The first two were outstanding cricketers and team mates of RK at Cambridge University, and the third a reputed businessman.

The first good cause to receive funds was the Foundation of Goodness, a charity founded by Kushil Gunasekare to help tsunami victims; he himself had been a casualty but was not content to suffer in silence. The funds have helped to rebuild the devastated Seenigama village and build the MCC centre of excellence; this provides free medical care, sporting and educational facilities, and also scholarships to needy children.

VM was a Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year, and according to Royalists, scored the best century ever at the Royal-Thomian big match, in 1963.

Mano P was a Thomian classmate of mine; he represented STC at cricket from 1960-63, and was a recipient of the FL Goonewardane batting shield for his exploits. At the University of Ceylon, where he graduated in engineering, Ponniah was a member of the team that won the P Saravanamuttu Trophy in 1963. This was the first time that the University had won this crown. Subsequently, he studied architecture, at Emmanuel College, at Cambridge University, and played for three years in the annual Oxford- Cambridge encounter. MP and RK scored 194 runs for the second wicket against Middlesex. He became a life member of the MCC, having been proposed by Sir Colin Cowdrey and RK. 2021 will be the 50th anniversary of this award. He is an award-winning chartered architect currently practising in SriLanka.

Ajith Dias is a pioneer of the garment industry and continued to be a loyal supporter of the Foundation of Goodness, as chairman of the Srilankan Airlines.

Like Abou Ben Adhem aka Ibrahim bin Adham, may their tribe increase, i. e. those who love and care for their fellow men and women.

KUMAR GUNAWARDANE

Emeritus Consultant Cardiologist

Australia