Percy Perera Memorial Basketball Carnival this month
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As part of St. Benedict’s College’s 150th year Jubilee Celebrations, the school is conducting a basketball carnival to promote the game among the beginners. The event has been named after one of the finest basketball products of the College – the late Percy Perera.
Percy Perera Memorial Basketball Carnival will take place from December 18 to 21 at the College premises in Kotahena with the participation of 12 invited schools and eight teams from St. Benedict’s. The event is conducted by St. Benedict’s College’s Under-19 basketball players with the guidance of Rev. Br. Janaka Fonseka, Director of St. Benedict’s and Rev. Br. Praveen Vaz, Sports Co-ordinator of the College.
Around 300 children are expected to take part in the Basketball Carnival and each participant will be presented with a certificate.
This year, St. Benedict’s is celebrating the College’s 150th jubilee. As part of the jubilee celebrations, the College has already conducted Schools Double Wicket Cricket Tournament and La Sallian Swimming Championship this year.
Percy Perera was perhaps the finest basketball product of St. Benedict’s College. He went onto represent the country with distinction and was a leading star in 1960s. He represented Sri Lanka in the 1964 Asian Games in Bangkok and was named Asia’s Best Shooter.
Among Percy Perera’s team-mates in the 1964 Asian Games were Dr. Thurairaja, Dr. Sriskandaraja, Dr. Jesudason, former Army Commander Rohan Daluwatte, Cosoms Perera and Graham Ludowyke. Percy Perera’s trade mark hook shot brought him much success and he was unstoppable during his peak.
“I would get to the court about one hour before practice and shoot about 500 hook shots,” Perera told celebrated sports writer T.M.K. Samat in the 1980s. Perera was no mean cricketer. He represented St. Benedict’s and later went onto represent Saracens and on one occasion took seven for 57 against SSC. Among his victims were Duleep Mendis.
Percy Perera migrated to Australia after his playing career. He passed away in 2014, exactly 50 years after becoming Asia’s Best Shooter.