Dr. A.R.L Wijesekera- Outstanding academic and talented Shuttler
Dr. A.R.L. Wijesekera, affectionately called ARL by his colleagues, the Badminton fraternity and also, Asoka or Ranjit by his relatives, passed away after period of illness on Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at age of 88.
ARL comes from an outstanding and distinguished academic family. His late father N.B.D.S Wijesekera was a Crown Proctor in Kalutara. ARL and 3 brothers, his sons late Ranil and Niranjan, and his grandsons Nivanka and Nilesh are products of Royal College.
ARL entered Royal College in the early 1940s. He was the winner of the De Soyza Science Scholarship at a young age, and entered the University of Ceylon in the late 1940`s, qualified and obtained a special Degree in Chemistry.
He joined the government Analyst Department as an Assistant Analyst and reached the pinnacle of his career as the Government Analyst. There was a short time when he held two posts, when he was also appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka Standards Institute.
He was the Consultant at the National Narcotics Laboratory of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.
ARL proceeded to the UK on a Government Scholarship to Strathclyde University, Glasgo Scotland, for his Postgraduate Degree and obtained his MSc. During his stay in the UK, he had his training in the Forensic Science Laboratory at Scotland Yard and worked in the University of Nottingham. He later obtained his Doctorate.
In addition to his academic achievements, as a sportsman, he excelled in Badminton. He captained the Royal College Badminton team in 1948 and 1949.The University of Ceylon Badminton Team won the Collins Shield at the first Inter Club Badminton Championship held in 1952, by the Badminton Association of Ceylon (BAC).
The victorious University team comprised C. Sri Ananda (Capt.), A.R.L. Wijesekera, C.E. (Tim) Nicholas, V. Shanmuganathan, M. Balasunderam and R. Sunderalingam.
ARL captained the Ceylon team in 1951 against a visiting Indian Thomas Cup team, which made a stopover in Ceylon, enroute to play their Thomas Cup final rounds against Australia. The Ceylon team comprised A.R.L. Wijesekera (Capt.), Raife Jansz, S. Selvajeyam, M. Balasunderam and Sam Schoorman. ARL played No.1 Singles and No.1 Doubles Partnering S. Selvajeyam. ARL along with N.M De Silva (President), Basil P. de Silva (Secretary) Arthur Chandrasena, Dinker Muthukrishna, P. Sivalingam, R.P. Nadarajah and S. Selvajeyam were the pioneers of the BAC, in 1950. The BAC was later elected to the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in 1953.
At the Thomas Cup tie against Japan held in 1957 at the Royal College Hall A.R.L. partnered by Rajalingam played in the Men`s Doubles.
ARL was the Manager cum Captain of the Ceylon Team at the Thomas Cup tie in 1960, against Pakistan in Lahore, Pakistan. ARL and Sam Chandrasena played in the 1st Doubles. The Malayan Thomas Cup Team visited Ceylon in 1961and played two Official Tests and two Exhibition Matches. ARL partnered Gerry Chandrasena and played in the Men’s Double. ARL and V. Veeraraghavan played in an unofficial test against two members of the visiting United States Thomas Cup team returning after the Inter Zone Thomas Cup ties held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1961.
ARL was Manager cum Captain of the Ceylon Team at the Inaugural Asian Badminton Confederation, (ABC) Championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1962.
ARL was Manager Cum Captain of the Ceylon Contingent for the 1st Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) Championships held in Lucknow, India in 1965 and also at the 1st Nehru Memorial Badminton Championships held in New Delhi, India. ARL partnered Gerry Chandrasena in the Mens` Doubles’
ARL captained the Ceylon team at the Thomas Cup tie against Pakistan held at the Panagoda Army Cantonment Indoor Gymnasium in 1966. It was a historic occasion when ARL and Gerry Chandrasena defeated the Pakistani Doubles pair. This was the 1st International win in a Thomas Cup tie for Ceylon.
At the 3rd International Schoolboy’s Championships held at the Panagoda Army Cantonment Indoor Gymnasium in 1967, ARL, along with Pitamber Singh (National Coach from Patiala Institute of Sports-India) coached the Ceylon School Boys Squad.
ARL, during his stay in the UK in 1968 and 1969, obtained his Advanced Level Coaching qualifications, passing the Preliminary, Intermediate and Final Examinations conducted by the Badminton Association of England, with flying colours.
ARL was the Manager of the Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Contingent which toured the Peoples Republic of China in 1974.
ARL was the President of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association (SLBA) on two occasions (1991-1992 & 2000 -2001 ). He was also a Senior Vice President, Chairman- Selection Committee, and the Disciplinary Committee of the SLBA. He was a member of the National Olympic Committee(NOC) representing Badminton. ARL also received the prestigious Meritorious Award for Service to Badminton, awarded by the International Badminton Federation(IBF).
ARL strode as a colossus in the field of Badminton. His services were readily available to students and players. He trained several young players who later went on to win several National titles and represented Sri Lanka at the Thomas Cup, Asian Games, Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC), and the Olympic Games.
The writer is greatly indebted to ARL for helping him to return to competitive Badminton, after his days at Royal College. His encouragement inspired him to win several National and YMCA titles and also represent the Country at the 1st Asian GANEFO Games in 1966, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Thomas Cup tie against Thailand in 1969 and the Test Matches against the Peoples Republic of China in 1973.
The three magical letters “A.R.L “are synonymous with badminton in Sri Lanka
“May he attain nibbana”.
Surendran (Dutta) Veeravagu
| His achievements in Badminton: A. Cosmopolitan Sports Club Open Tournament 2nd open 1951 – Men`s Singles & Doubles – Winners Mixed Doubles – Runners-up 3rd Open 1952 – Men`s Singles & Doubles Runners-up 4th Open 1953 – Mixed Doubles – Winners B. YMCA Open Tournament 2nd Open 1952 Mixed Doubles Winners Men`s Doubles Runners-up 3rd Open 1953 Men`s Singles & Doubles Winners 5th Open 1955 Men`s Doubles & Mixed Doubles Runners-up 6th Open 1956 Mixed Doubles Winners 7th Open 1957 Men`s Doubles & Mixed Doubles Winners 9th Open 1959 Men`s Doubles & Mixed Doubles Winners 10th Open 1960 Men`s Doubles Runners-up 11th Open 1961 Men`s Doubles & Mixed Doubles Winners 12th Open 1962 Men`s Doubles Winners 14th Open 1964 Men`s Doubles Winners 15th Open 1965 Men`s Doubles Winners 16th Open 1966 Men`s Doubles Winners C. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2nd Nationals 1954 Men’s Doubles Runners-up 3rd Nationals1955 Men`s Doubles Runners-up 4th Nationals 1956 Mixed Doubles Winners Men`s Doubles Runners-up 5th Nationals 1957 Mixed Doubles Winners Men’s Doubles Runners-up 6th Nationals 1958 Men`s Doubles & Mixed Doubles Winners 7th Nationals 1959 Men`s Doubles Runners-up 8th Nationals 1960 Men`s Doubles Winners 9th Nationals 1961 Mixed Doubles Winners Men`s Doubles Runners up 12thNationals1964 Men`s Doubles Winners 13thNational 1965Men`s Doubles Winners 14thNational 1966 Men`s Doubles Winners | |