Disciplined, dedicated Palitha’s devotion to Cricket
It is very rarely a person is born with a special interest for a particular sport, and sacrifices his wealth, time and knowledge for the benefit of that sport. Former Dharmapala, SSC, Nomads and Saracens cricketer, T.K. Palitha, belongs to that rare breed who lived for Cricket. Born into a wealthy business family, Palitha never had any interest in his family business. Having started his cricketing career at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, representing from Under 13 to 1st XI, he was a tower of strength to any team he played, and was a member of the senior team from 1961 to 1966. A wicketkeeper-batsman of the highest calibre, he was one of the most feared opening batsmen in schools, during that era.
Possessed with a sharp eye and excellent footwork, Palitha is on song from the first ball he faces, and takes the shine off the new ball in no time. A wicketkeeper with lightening reflexes and nimble footwork, he was an asset to any bowler. This brilliant opening batsman holds the ground record of 209 against Christian College, Kotte. Every schoolboy cricketer’s dream is to lead his school team, but Palitha was deprived of realising his dream, as he was overlooked for the captaincy for reasons unknown, in 1966, which was his last year. However, Palitha, the true sportsman, gave his best to the team and cooperated with the skipper to ensure Dharmapala excelled that particular season.
He was in the National Schools team as a wicketkeeper-batsman that toured Australia in 1964. Former National cricketer, the late P.I. Peiris spotted this youngster’s talents and invited him to play for SSC. Having played for the Maitland Place club for a short period, he joined Nomads Sports Club and played under the late D.H. De Silva. Later representing Saracens Sports Club, Palitha proved his capabilities as a wicketkeeper-batsman having a big hand in most of their victories. His highest score was 111 against Adastrians. The golden era of Palitha’s cricketing life was as coach of his alma mater from 1976 to 1995.
As a true son of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, he sacrificed his time and wealth for the uplift of Dharmapala Cricket. During his tenure, Dharmapala became a force to be reckoned with in school Cricket, and won the coveted Coca Cola Trophy in 1986. He produced cricketers of the calibre of Ravindra Wimalasiri, Deepal Gunawardene, Chintaka Jayasinghe and former Sri Lanka spinner Gamini Perera. While coaching Dharmapala, Palitha was offered coach of Trinity College, Kandy, which he declined to devote himself to Dharmapala’s Cricket. Alas! This devoted coach had to make a sorrowful exit as coach for instituting disciplinary action against two cricketers who disobeyed his orders to take the field, after they had come off for a short break.
Palitha introduced cricket for Girls at Dharmapala in 1977, and formed a Girls’ Cricket team . Despite many setbacks, Palitha never gave up the idea of serving the game and was a founder-member of the Old Dharmapalians Sports Club, where his services were confined to being only a committee member later. Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Dilhara Fernando came under Palitha’s wings at De Mazanod College, Kandana, where Fernando was tutored to bowl the slow ball with a fast action. This man with a wide knowledge of the game, coached Dharmapala MV, Kottawa, Maharagama MV and Gamini MV and President’s College, Kotte. In 1999, under Palitha’s guidance, President’s College were Runners-up in the Lemonade Trophy Schools Cricket competition.
Palitha’s contribution to this noble game was not only as a player and coach. In the field of administration, he was a member of the Tournament Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka from 1991 to 1994, and a holder of an Instructive Coaching Certificate in Cricket. He was the Manager of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team, a Zonal Coach and as a District Coach. His third setback was his dismisal as District Coach, for rejecting special concessions to a cricketer from a leading school and who later played for Sri Lanka.
The noble and silent services rendered to Cricket, by this highly talented and knowledgeable person, failed to gain due recognition for unknown reasons. This strict disciplinarian who showed the correct path to his pupils as coach, helped them reach great heights. His guiding advice to cricketing youngsters is, “Strive for the victory while maintaining the highest traditions of the game and sportsmanship’. Palitha who is in his late ’60s, is still willing to help any school or cricketer who seek his services.