Mahinda felicitates a true contributor
View(s):The ceremonial opening of the Major G.W.S. de Silva Cricket performance Centre at Mahinda College Galle to be held on Thursday 25 October at 8.30 am at the College grounds will be a true tribute to a great contributor to the cause of cricket at Mahinda. Mahinda College, Galle was established in 1892. Cricket originated at Mahinda in early last century with the first big match against Richmond College having been played in 1905. This is ample testimony to the fact that Mahinda College has given prominence to cricket almost since its inception.
Cricket practice has been done at college grounds for years although the ground was almost unsuitable for cricket. Popularly known as
Major G.W.S. de Silva
Pedi Kumbura (Paddy field), which lived up to its name by making the place uninhabitable during rainy season. It used to get waterlogged after the slightest of shower that ensured disruption for any sport especially cricket for days. There were times when the college first X1 practiced on a side at the Galle esplanade as it was then known, that had just a basic half length matting wicket. The situation was more or less the same until fairly recently when Mahinda college, its old boys with the help of Sri Lanka Cricket developed the ground, to become the only other cricket ground in town after the Galle International Cricket Stadium. An addition of a turf wicket was another positive outcome of this development. It now facilitates not only Mahinda College, but also all other schools in the southern capital.
Mahinda College has produced many outstanding cricketers in its long history. Cricketers of the caliber of Athula Samarasekera, Marvan Atapattu, Upul Chandana, Lasith Malinga and Jayananda Warnaweera have all gone on to represent Sri Lanka in Test cricket with distinction while D.L.S de Silva represented Sri Lankan Cricket World Cup team in 1979 before his untimely demise. There have also been many who have represented Sri Lanka or Ceylon in the pre-Test era. D.H. de Silva, D.P. de Silva, Neil de Silva, have represented the country during that era. There have also been many who have represented Sri Lanka A and Sri Lanka schools teams.
Cricket Foundation of Mahinda College Galle (CFMC) was established in the year 2001 by a group of prominent past cricketers with the aim of promoting and developing school cricket to a higher standard by providing better facilities and opportunities to college cricketers. Mahinda college Old boys’ Association and other Old Boys’ associations, both local and overseas have helped the college in numerous ways to uplift its cricket in the past as well as at present. However School cricket has now reached a level which often demands professional standards in all aspects of the game. Hiring a professional coach or many coaches as the case may be has become
The full-fledged facility ‘Maj. G.W.S. De Silva Cricket Performance Centre’ is named after its legendary coach.
the norm even at the junior levels. Traditionally it was a teacher who doubled up as the cricket coach and even master-in-charge, which put less strain on college financially.
The full-fledged facility “Maj. G.W.S. De Silva Cricket Performance Centre” is named after its legendary coach Maj. G W S De Silva.
Mahinda College considers ‘Major G.W.S. de Silva era’ of cricket as its golden era. The reason being from early 70s up to the end of the decade when he was in charge of its cricket, College produced outstanding teams as well as individuals on a regular basis. The college won many awards as the best outstation team and best team in the southern province in addition to many players winning individual awards. Many players during his time regularly represented Sri Lanka schools teams.
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