Ranjith Gunawardena elected President of Moratuwa SC
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Attorney-at-Law, Ranjith Gunawardena, JP, LLB and Acting Magistrate of Moratuwa was elected President of Moratuwa Sports Club uncontested at the 73rd Annual General Meeting held on August 27 at the club pavilion.
Deshamanya Dr. Indrani Ariyarathne, Manageress of Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket team for the World Championship held recently in the UK was elected again for the same post for the forthcoming West Indies Tour in October was elected Hony. Secretary.
Ruwan Gallage, JP, FCMA (UK) CGMA, was elected as Hony Treasurer. Gallage is the Chairman of Lankaputhra Development Bank and he held the post of Head of Finance in the ICC Secretariat in 2011. He is an old Royalist and represented College in Cricket. Chrisantha de Silva was appointed by SLC as an observer at the AGM.
Brief history of the club
At a meeting of cricketers and cricket enthusiasts held at the Moratuwa Town Hall on March 14, 1941 presided over by Dr. H.I. Fernando, the Chairman of the Moratuwa Urban Council, it was decided there to form a club named Moratuwa Sports Club. At a subsequent meeting held on June 30, 1941, Moratuwa Sports Club was formally constituted and its office bearers were elected, Dr. H.I. Fernando was elected as President.
The founders of Moratuwa Sports Club such as Mr. D.H.L. de Silva (who became the next President), Rolly Fernando, Lesley Mendis, G.P. de Silva and so forth met late A.H.T. de Soysa, a distinguished member of the De Soysa Clan, got him to donate his land in the immediate vicinity of the De Soysa Walauwa at Rawatawatta. To make this more spacious the land adjoining owned by Victor de Soysa for which he required a payment of Rs. 15000/-, which amount was paid by Moratuwa Urban Council and the deeds for the whole land was made in favour of Moratuwa Urban Council.
The playground after making necessary arrangements were named as De Soysa Park. This was opened by Hon. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, Minister of Local Government on May 24, 1941. A.H.T. de Soysa in another act of generosity donated a fine Pavilion to the club in 1952, which was opened by Chief Justice, Sir Alan Rose.
The club entered Sara Trophy, then Major Tournament in 1956 being join champs with NCC in Division III. This team was lead by Tressel Peiris. Moratuwa SC obtained lease of the playground at the De Soysa Park from the Urban Council and thereafter was responsible for developing and maintained the ground till yesteryear.
The stadium received international status on February 15, 1979, when Moratuwa witnessed the first international match in its history. A record crowd turned out for the one-day limited overs match between the Board President’s XI and the West Indies, organised by Moratuwa SC. The Sri Lankans led by Anura Tennekoon won the match. Besides successfully staging One Day Internationals at De Soysa Park, gained Test status when third Test against Australia was played on September 8, 1992. This is the 167th Test venue of the world’s cricket playing nations.
During the mob violence in 1987, the club pavilion was burnt to ashes. The then President Chrisantha de Silva showing his mettle took quick action to rebuild the club pavilion. He mustered the support of many large hearted sportsman and business organisations and providing his own money, material and men to rebuild the club within a record time and Moratuwa SC was back at home.
Later came the necessity to modernise the pavilion, Moratuwa SC then President Vernon de Mel with Prasanna Fernando’s guidance in project to get funds, they approached the SLC. They met interim committees headed by Rienzie Wijetilake and Vijaya Malalasekara and forwarded the club’s need. The project was estimated at Rs. 6.2 million. Later Jayantha Dharmadasa, when he was appointed, helped with a grant of Rs. 3.2m. More funds were needed and through donations the first stage was completed. Prassana Fernando helped Vernon de Mel to achieve this. All senior club members dutifully helped this cause. The stone laying ceremony for new building was held on June 1, 2002. Several ministers and Sri Lanka World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga participated.
To build the upper floor these two again approached Jayantha Dharmadasa and without hesitation he heeded to their request. Rs. 1.5m was again donated by SLC to this project. The upstairs was competed and now the gymnasium functions there.
The club has a very capable member in Rajith Gunawardena as President, very active capable member Indrani Ariyarathna as Secretary and a highly qualified Ruwan Gallage as Treasurer. Let’s hope all office bearers and other members will rally round Ranjith to achieve his aims.
Vernon de Mel Past President Moratuwa Sports Club