Grand opening of Wesley College’s 127-year-old restored pavilion
View(s):Wesley College, a historic seat of learning in Sri Lanka with a storied past of over 150 years, celebrated its deep-rooted sporting heritage last Thursday with the grand re-opening of its 127-year-old restored pavilion at Campbell Park, Wesley’s spiritual sporting home. Former Wesley and Ceylon cricketer L.R. ‘Lucky’ Goonetilleke, considered to be one of the best left-arm fast bowlers Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) has ever produced, graced the occasion as chief guest.
The pavilion’s significance traces back to its acquisition by Wesley from the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club at Campbell Park in 1940. Believed to have been built in the late 1890s the pavilion with archeological value and a history resembling an English country clubhouse, the pavilion was inaugurated on January 19, 1940 by old boy G.C.S. Corea, then Minister of Labour, Industries and Commerce. Then Vice Principal P.H. Nonis played a crucial part in procuring both Campbell Park and the pavilion.
Capt. Navin de Silva
Arguably one of the oldest pavilions amongst schools in Sri Lanka, it stood on the precipice of decay, a dire situation necessitating immediate intervention. The restoration of the grand old pavilion has been long overdue with the aim of adding top notch modern facilities by preserving its grandeur architectural heritage of the past and inspire future generations of sportspeople who will be walking through the hallowed premises.
The pavilion restoration project was a part of Wesley College’s 150th-year Sesquicentennial Celebrations and initiated by the Old Boys Union spearheaded by Capt. Navin de Silva with meticulous supervision of the three pillars of the Pavilion Restoration Project Committee including Project Chairman Ivor Maharoof, Secretary Shehan Sheriff and Treasurer S. Renganathan. Along with the committee Fahad Nazir, Raveen Wijesekera, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickramaratne, K. Dayaparan, Gerard Fernando, William Deutrom, Avanka Fernando, the Principal of Wesley, L.R. Goonetilleke, renowned chartered architect Murad Ismail, L.C.R. Wijesinghe, licentiate architect M.F. Amith, Maj. Gen. Indu Samarakoone, Maithri Vithanage and Col. Rizan Hamidon, the current Prefect of Games.
Rev. Kingsley Weerasinghe, the President of Methodist Church of Sri Lanka, Principal of the college Avanka Fernando, Director of St. Benedict’s College Rev. Bro. (Dr.) Pubudu Rajapaksha and many dignitaries attended the event.
Former national cricketer Michael Tissera and former double international Chandra Schaffter were special invitees at the event. Wesley’s very own Ian K. Karan (Diamond Donor), Bertie Ekanaike (Old boy of St. John’s College, Nugegoda, Donor), St. Benedict’s College OBU representatives were also part of the grand celebrations. Wesley’s senior-most crickets from the ‘Invincible’ era of 1950s, B.M.N. Jurangpathy and M.N. Samsudeen added value to the historic project opening with their participation.
This initiative is one of the key pillars of Wesley’s sesquicentennial projects where along with the planting of 150 trees, the Double Blue fraternity embarked on a journey to help 150 underprivileged schools deep in rural Sri Lanka as well as in the commercialised cities of the island nation. Meanwhile, Campbell Park will see its newly built traditional scoreboard come to life in a few months.
Distinguished invitees
Chief guest L.R. Goonetilleke presenting a memento to Chandra Shaffter
Project Chairman Ivor Maharoof (left), Secretary Shehan Sheriff (centre) and Treasurer S. Renganathan pix by M. A. pushpakumara