Alles-Gunasekara Basketball encounter – creating new trends
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The big game is this September and most who witnessed the first two encounters will tell that it’s a lot more than just a basketball game. Just like the previous games, basketball lovers are going to witness the hard fought third encounter between the Royal College and Gateway College Under-19 Basketball teams for the Alles-Gunasekara Trophy. This unique event between a large public school and a private school is certainly gaining momentum.
The Royal College Basketball Advisory and Management Committee initiated this event with the idea of setting a trend in promoting Basketball, as a spectator game using the popular big-match concept. Basketball is considered the second fastest game in the world which can be played in a limited space and time with a lot of excitement.
It is a game that fits any age group as there could be different forms of the game such as five against five, one-on-one, two-on- two or three-on-three, or mere shooting. Once it’s made a spectator game the attraction of sponsors will lead to the promotion of the game. The event attracts around 2000 spectators and organisers are considering having reserved seats with paid up tickets. Apart from reserved seats the entrance will be free of charge in general.
The encounter being named after two stalwarts of education is a show of gratitude to those who have contributed to the development of their alma maters. Instead of a single name it has created more engagement between the two institutions. Following the Alles-Gunasekara trophy, a few other encounters have emerged in netball and football which follow the same concept.
R.I.T. Alles
Late R.I.T. Alles, commenced his journey as a teacher at Royal College where he served for over a decade. Mr. Alles did yeoman service to the country as the founder Principal of D.S. Senanayake College and later as the State Secretary of Education. Remembered by many as one of the finest educators the country has produced, Mr. Alles is also the founder of Gateway College. Late Mr. E. Christie Gunasekara a contemporary teacher at Royal College along with Mr. Alles, was a great mentor of discipline during his long tenure ending as the Vice Principal. A teacher feared by almost all the students while at school, was much respected by the same students after leaving school. Nicknamed ‘Kataya’ as he expected well-disciplined students along with appropriate haircuts, he often used to say “cut your hair”, which led to the fondly remembered nickname. Mr. Gunasekara dedicated a major portion of his life for the betterment of Royal College and was once the President of the Sri Lanka schools Basketball Association among many other contributions to multiple sporting activities.
E. Christie Gunasekara
Another uniqueness is the matching of two cultures where a large public school with more than 150 years of traditions contests with a relatively new leading private institution. A pre-encounter dinner hosted by one school each year has given a start in developing new traditions. The event is organised by a joint committee consisting of old boys and teachers of Royal College along with parents and teachers of Gateway College, representing diverse backgrounds. Gateway has started attracting young old boys to the committee for the sustainability of the event. Adding to the diversity, apart from the main boys’ events an exhibition match will be played between the girls of Gateway College and Visakha Vidyalaya.
Attracting Monash University of Australia and Malaysia as the key sponsor has been a stimulant for the event. This year’s event will be graced by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva as the Chief Guest who has been a National Basketball player.
With such vivid additions and enthusiasm, both schools are confident of making another platform for students to develop their character – by learning of men, apart from learning of books. (Writer Janaka Kumarasinghe is a founder member of the Joint Organising Committee of Alles-Gunasekara Annual Basketball encounter.)