One defeat too many
The College founded by the legendary Rector of St. Joseph’s College (SJC), Maradana , late Rev. Fr. Maurice Le Goc in 1922 as “St. Joseph’s College South” was also called the “Garden School of Wellawatte”.
In the last week of March, this School (St. Peter’s College – SPC) became the “Garden of Getsamane”. As per the scriptures, this was the garden where Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed for 30 Silver Coins by his disciple Judas, who had his last supper with his master just a few hours prior to this great betrayal in the history of mankind.
Dear Readers, it is up to you to decide which role was played by the SJC Rector in this “Play”. Is it the role of Judas or the Ruler of Juda, Pontius Pilot? (He was the Ruler who gave the ultimate Judgment to crucify Jesus Christ on the cross.) Let me roll out the sequence of events that took place before/at/after the 43rd Joe-Pete Limited Over (LO) Cricket Encounter that was played at the SSC grounds on March 25.
St. Peter’s College enrolled in September 2016, an Australian-born student named Sulakshana Shenura Fernando. His father made a request to St. Peter’s to admit his son into College, because he would like his son to learn Sri Lankan roots at first hand and be able to integrate easily into the social and cultural network of his motherland. Recommendations to support the request were made by an Old Peterite, ex-Sri Lanka Cricketer (who was instrumental in the country’s first Test victory), and the boy’s godfather who was an old boy of St Peters, who had supported the College in many ways. By then, Sulakshana had completed Grade 11 at a Grammar School in Queensland, which is equivalent to our GCE (O/L). As he met all the necessary criteria, he was admitted to SPC as a normal fee-paying student and commenced schooling in September 2016. His a dual Citizen of Sri Lanka. In the past, many sportsmen, born in other countries, represented Sri Lanka Public Schools. (Ex: Ibrahim Hussain Didi a Maldivian National captained First XV SPC Rugby in 1979. How about Mathew Abeysinghe the Swimmer?, There are many Trinitian sportsmen who represented TCK after being born in other countries.) Sulakshana was duly registered with the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA). He played few Inter-School first eleven matches during the season including the Joe-Pete “Mini Battle” that was played at Darley Road on February 24 and 25. He was given a participation certificate signed by both Rectors. Further he was in the squad for the Big Match played on March 3 and 4, at the P.Sara Stadium. His photographs, performance details etc appeared in the Big Match Souvenir. On that occasion too, he was given a Match Participation Certificate signed by both Rectors and this Certificate was handed over to him by the Rector of SJC at the Pre-match award Ceremony. Up to this point, not a single Josephian (past or present) or, any other authority at SJC had issues with this boy. At the said Limited Overs Encounter, Sulakshana scored a brilliant 90, along with Manelka de Silva who scored a match-winning century putting up the highest partnership for any wicket in this Limited Overs series.
This was the point where a few old Joes who could not stomach the defeat (mind you, it was the third successive defeat in the series and, as far as the record books are concerned, since 2010 and up to 2016 SJC had lost 3 Big Matches.) This was too much to stomach for some old Joes. At the same time, during last few years, SPC was getting “Best School Team” award at different Cricket award ceremonies and last year, in Div.I Inter-School Cricket Tournament, became Joint Champions. This year too being the best 3rd or 4rth team in Div. I League tournament. (Out of 36 school Teams). These achievements by SPC may be difficult for some Old Joes to digest.
Now, going back to the “Passion Play”, some of these Pharasies, Chief Priests and Social Leaders started to hatch the coup. When they analysed the defeat, they found this boy Sulakshana. In fact, their Sports Chief “Wije” went to contact his good old buddy in Aussie (again an old Joe who was looking after the Women Cricketers one time, where “Wije” had a rollicking time then ha,ha,ha,ha …) to get more information about this boy. They started their ugly mission around March 27 on the ‘FB’, saying Sulakshana is not eligible to play, he is studying at a University in Australia and playing cricket for a Club in Brisbane etc..
On March 28 (Tuesday) night there was this Joe-Pete Rugby pre-match Team Dinner at St Peters. By that time Joes’ Pharasies, Chiefs like “Wije” and others were getting ready with the necessary letters to be signed by the St Joseph’s Rector to fire at SLC (CEO being an old Joe), SLSCA and Ministry of Education. At the Head table, along with the Priest community of both Colleges,the Rectors were sitting adjoining on chairs (with their cassocks touching each other) listening to all the speeches given at the Dinner and the SJC Rector illustrating on “it won’t matter who wins the match on that day, important thing is the rich traditions of the two Institutes” etc. When similar sentiments were mentioned by the Rector of SPC, the Head of SJC too was listening. At that moment, what went through SJC Rector’s mind (guilty feeling) would have been very similar to Juda’s at the last supper table, when lord Jesus Christ was inaugurating the sacrament of Eucharist. Within the next few days, the said “Objection Letters” reached the Cricketing authorities of this country. There were several articles written on this issue and published in many newspapers. They got it all wrong. Like I mentioned earlier, this was not the first time a Sportsman who was born in some other country had represented a school in Sri Lanka. This is NOT the first time a Peterite Schoolboy Cricketer had played Club Cricket in Australia. Lahiru Peiris, 2007 SPC Captain played a season in Australia while in College. There was no issue at that time, as Joes Sports were handled by true gentlemen. Come on Joes. Be mature. Take the defeat.
If you need to thrash out things there are proper forums. There is a way of doing things. Going public is NOT the solution to an issue. There was so called Joe-Pete Joint Organizing Committee where all rules and regulations were discussed prior to the matches, while making all arrangements for these two encounters (Big Match and the Limited Overs encounter). As a leading Catholic Institute, SJC had many options to sort out this or, to obtain clarifications from SPC authorities.
This is where the role of Pontius Pilot comes into the scene. Did SJC Sports Head “Wije” insist of the Rector of SJC, “If you could dance to the tune of SJC Rugby Minister’s, now dance a bit to our tune too”. It is the same thing, like what the Juda Ruler Pilot said to the people when Jesus Christ was in front of him for Judgment, “I cannot find anything wrong with this man”, then pharasies, Chief Priests and leaders shouted at the Ruler “You are a friend of Cesar. This man claims that he is the King, do Justice”. For this statement by the people, the Ruler panicked and he called for a basin of water and washed his hands saying, “You all take the responsibility” and Jesus was sentenced to death. People shouted back saying “Not only us, upon our children too we will take the responsibility”, and all of you aware how that curse fell upon the Jews to date.
In the past, there have been similar issues or greater issues that cropped up between these two great Catholic Colleges. It was settled amicably. (Eg: After the 38th Encounter in 1972, SPC was routed by innings. In 1973, just before the Big Match, present day Joe-Pete commentator Edgar Thevarayan was overage by one day, prior to the Match. SPC authorities referred then SJC Rector late Rev Fr Mervyn Weerakkody to play Edgar at this Big Match, SJC Rector gave the “OK” and this Peterite Opener went on to score 119 runs out of 200 runs scored by SPC in their first Innings, and ultimately, SPC won that encounter by 6 Wickets. There was no one in the Joes camp to find out why SJC Rector gave the “OK” or, from which School Edgar came etc.. In fact, Edgar crossed over to SPC from St Benedict’s College for academic purposes. At that time, present day Joes Sports Chief “Wije” would have been in “shorts”. Otherwise, he would have tried his nonsense on that occasion too.
It is noted that Joes had tried to justify player poaching and, on the contrary, talking about mercenaries and denying the opportunity of genuine students from Junior sides. It is better if they go in front of a Mirror and ask who is poaching and who is denying players from junior sides representing senior sides, just to win tournaments and matches.They will get the answer for themselves.
If things go on like this, Joes may have to change their present Motto to read as “BY HOOK OR BY CROOK”
Let God save Joes. - A. Perera Mt. Lavinia