Hemaka Amarasuriya completing 25 years with MHA
View(s):Hemaka Amarasuriya, a longtime advocate of the game of Hockey in Sri Lanka, is completing his 25th year as the Patron of the Mercantile Hockey Association, to which position he was appointed to in the year 1989.
The Mercantile Hockey Association claims its roots in the Mercantile Amateur Athletic Association’s dedicated Hockey section in the year 1952. Five years later, it gained its rightful independence from the parent association as the Mercantile Hockey Association in 1957.
Hemaka Amarasuriya
Since Amarasuriya’s earliest predecessor, Mallory Wijesinghe, many distinguished personalities have served for the betterment of the game of Hockey in the mercantile sector, with gentlemen in the likes of Joseph Cammilus (Pettah Pharmacy), J.M.J. Perera (Brown & Co.), Edmund J. Cooray (Brown & Co.), M.C. Bostock (John Keells), L.S. Jayawardana (Unilever), Lester Cooray (Brown & Co.) serving with selfless dedication for the propagation of Mercantile Hockey.
The name of our protagonist, Amarasuriya soars high along with the names of the committed advocates aforementioned as the longest serving Patron of the Association’s history. His tenure at the Mercantile Hockey commenced in 1983 when he was invited to be a Vice Patron and served till 1989. Thereafter he assumed duties as Patron and continued to serve most honourably in that capacity to date. Serving a total of 31 years with dedication alongside Dennis Rosayro, who had the longest tenure as President and was the live wire at MHA 1978 – 2008.
His services to the game in his capacity as the Chairman of the well reputed Singer (Sri Lanka) Ltd. remains worthy of mention. His patronage for Hockey within his own firm lead the lackluster Singer team to be the Champions of the Division ‘A’ Tournament later on. Perhaps the most noteworthy of his services would be his considerate generosity in assuring many potential National players of stable employment, while guiding the young talent in the best interest of the game as well as their own selves. His eye for talent did not by any means limit to the game of Hockey, it is quite popular among the sporting community that it was Amarasuriya that first recognized and promoted former Sri Lankan Cricket Captain and current National Selector Sanath Jayasuriya as a potential prospect for Sri Lanka Cricket. His confidence paid rich dividends as Mr. Jayasuriya, as we all know, went on to be one of the most respected players in his era, being once decorated as the ‘Most Valuable Player’ in the 1996 World Cup which Sri Lanka won.
His undiscriminating passion for Sport helped Singer (Sri Lanka) gain a ruthless notoriety in whatever the sporting competition they took part, be it in Basketball, Hockey or Cricket. Many unmentioned, the service he has provided, not only the game of Hockey, but all Sport in general, is exemplary to say the least and the passion in which he went about all it is indeed a rarity.
The Mercantile Hockey Association is organizing an event to appreciate and honour the untiring service rendered by Hemaka Amarasuriya on the 26th of April at 7.30pm at ‘Park Premier’ Banquet Hall at Excel Entertainment complex, Darley Road, Colombo 10.
Manjula Wijemanne
President
Mercantile Hockey Association