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All in the Royal-Thomian family

By Bernie Wijesekera
The 125th anniversary cricket match between Royal and S. Thomas' which will be played over three days next month will bring back nostalgic memories in the annals of Sri Lanka cricket. There may be international events in the local cricket calendar. The world cricket champions in both formulas test and one-day - the Australian team under Ricky Ponting is here for a three Test match series and eight-one-day matches. It's the ideal barometer for the national team to match their skills to uplift the country's image in the international scene.

With all their differences on and off the field all will rally around the "Lion flag" with an united effort to support them. This will bring about reconciliation via cricket among all races.

But attention will be focused among the fans for the great happening for the year 2004 - the "Battle of the Blues' which has gone uninterrupted for 125 years.

There are leaders aplenty drawn from both institutions who have fought relentless battles to free the country from colonial rule with other national leaders (freedom fighters) sans caste, creed or race for a united nation.

The Thomians hold an invincible record in their cricketing history to have produced two former Prime Ministers from one family that goes to the Senanayake clan from Botale. The first Prime Minister after Independence - Don Stephen Senanayake, played from 1901-02. His son Dudley 1927-29 also emerged as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Both did much to help the poor farmers to make the country self sufficient in food. While second son Robert Senanayake, too played for the Thomians from 1928-32 Robert was the longest serving Captain, but was on the losing side. He had an unenviable record of serving as President of the Cricket Board for a record period and served during trying times to uplift its image to gain international status with his own men and material.

He continued the good from his predecessor, yet another old Thomian P. Saravanamuttu. The Saravanamuttu clan, too holds a record in Mt. Lavinia school's cricket history.

No doubt Royal, too boasts of producing Prime Ministers like Sir John Kotelawela, J.R. Jayewardene (Prime Minister and President). J.R. played for Royal in 1926 along with D.W.L. Lieversz (Snr.). The present Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. But two Prime Ministers from the same family - (father and son) D.S. and Dudley Senanayake, who played in the "Battle of the Blues' will be hard to beat apparently even for another generation.

Both were able Statesmen (indulging in team sports) which helped them in latter life. They possessed human qualities on and off the field. Maintained the spirit of this gentlemen's game which they learnt even during adverse times, whilst serving the country.

D.S. Senanayake had the feeling for the poor man. His son emulated his qualities (Dudley). D.S. fervently believed in this saying. "A Nation, is not judged how it treats its highest ones, but the lowest ones'.

Royal and STC have produced fine cricketers, who have been churned out from the "Battle of the Blues'. Some of them doing proud for the country, later.

One of them was 'Gentleman Jim' Vernon Prins, who led the Thomian team to victory in 1943. He will be greatly missed by his close friends from both institutions. He passed away recently. Captained Sri Lanka during the tenure of late Robert Senanayake (President of the Cricket Board). He played with the likes of F.C. de Saram, C.I. Gunasekera, Mahes Rodrigo, Lucien de Zoysa, Channa Gunasekera (all old Royalists), R.B. Wijesinghe, Chandra Schaffter etc.

Besides cricketers 'The Battle of the Blues' produced professionals in many other fields, who served the country well at home and abroad.

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