‘Disciplining Many’: Nelson Mendis to launch autobiography
Veteran cricket coach, Nelson Mendis, will launch his autobiography on February 21, 2025, at the Malalasekara Hall at Nalanda College in Colombo. Mendis has been involved in cricket coaching for almost seven decades in Sri Lanka, and has produced thousands of cricketers through his renowned training academy, the Nelson Mendis Cricket Academy.
‘Disciplining Many’, as he has decided to name his book, carries many interesting episodes of his inspiring story, which would certainly become lessons for life, for any young reader. He has described several incidents where he had used diverse tactics to control and correct many young students and guide them to become useful citizens of the country in later years. The book promises a fascinating flow of interesting chapters of his life.
Coach Mendis has guided 28 young cricketers who later played for Sri Lanka, while most of his cricket students have gone to the extent of becoming renowned match officials, cricket coaches and administrators in Sri Lanka as well as abroad. Even at 87, Coach Mendis still continues with his passion of mentoring and guiding young cricketers who get the luxury of being coached by one of the most admired cricket gurus in Sri Lanka.
The official launching ceremony of ‘Disciplining Many’ will take place at 5:00pm on Friday, February 21, 2025, at the Malalasekera Hall at Nalanda College, the institution which Coach Mendis recalls as a very important part in his life.
Hemaka Amarasuriya, former Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka, where Coach Mendis had worked after he left Nalanda College, will grace the occasion as Chief Guest while two of leading international cricketers, his former students and Nalanda products — Roshan Mahanama and Mahela Jayawardena — will be special guests at the occasion.
The event is bound to be a star-studded evening with many leading personalities from the cricketing arena gathering in one location, as a tribute to this great personality. Among them several past cricketers as well as his past students, fellow teachers, cricketers, coaches, umpires and cricket administrators with whom Coach Mendis had worked over the years, are also expected to be present.