Where do we play?

By Chamintha Thilakarathna.

"Don't take our playground away!," is the cry of thousands of residents, twenty sports clubs and three junior schools, on the Ratmalana-Moratuwa border.

The CME (chief Mechanical Engineerl) Ground at Kaldamulla, Ratmalana is not the best recreation spot in the area. But it is undoubtedly the most loved by residents. The toads that croak and mud that cloaks it after a heavy shower have not stopped people from coming there. Through the years, it has become a part of their life and lifestyle.

The news, that the ground has been taken over for a housing scheme project has thus upset them all.

The project aims at building houses on the two and a half acre playground to support poor families in the area. "The land was transferred through a Cabinet paper to the Divisional Secretariat of the area and could be requested for construction of houses by any organisation. The Rotary Club has made such a request and is funding a project to build houses for the poor on a non-political basis. We are trying to get them as much assistance as possible from the Housing Ministry to commence the project shortly," said Tissa Perera, officer in charge of the project.

He said that although some people object to losing a play ground, housing is a basic need and more important for hundreds of homeless.

This ground is only a part of a large project in the area. Initially 80 perches of land under the Divisional Secretariat which falls under this new housing project, has been allocated for 25 houses already designed, according to him.

The land originally spanned four acres, according to a retired railway official, but was cut into half when quarters for the German Railway Training Institute were built a few years ago.

For students of Salina, Attadasa and Gnanendra junior schools for whom the CME has been the only sports ground that they could afford, the news is depressing.

"Sports festivals are usually held here," said Principal of Salina Junior School, W.M.Fernando. "The three schools cannot afford grounds for sports events leaving this as the only option."

For generations, the ground has also been the meeting place of the community.

"New year celebrations, musical shows, annual cricket and 'elle' tournaments, are conducted here with the participation of people from as far as Angulana. This is where we meet and enjoy ourselves. I see people of my age, using the ground to exercise in harmony with the youth at play," said Moratuwa Mayor, A.T.K.Chandradasa.

"We spend at least Rs.10,000 on maintenance of the ground," said Sports Club members. They said that they maintain the ground with voluntary assistance, which usually is in abundance, on the understanding that they be allowed to use the ground for their evening jog or football matches.

People feel that the ground has played a big role in keeping the crime rate in the area under control. "Usually these areas are known for drug addicts, etc. Having such a recreation area helps keep the young occupied with a means of overcoming their frustrations and depressions. As a result, rarely do we hear of crimes from this locality," said both the School Principal and Mayor.

Relating the history of the grounds, P.D.Silva, a retired employee of the Railway Department said that the ground was initially meant to provide recreational facilities for Railway Department workers, when the land was bought some fifty years ago. "Although it was owned by the Railway Department, this was however shared with neighbouring organisations as there was no sports ground in the area. And, this is the only ground available for the public from the Ratmalana CGR grounds to the De Soysa Stadium," he said.

"It not only recreation that the playground offers. It also provides a good environment," said Mr. Pathirathna, President of the Kaldamulla East Welfare Association. He said that in this urbanized area, the ground is the only piece of bare land that one could find. "In the mornings, there are birds, in the evenings, cows come to graze, and the green provides fresh air and a healthy atmosphere for all," he said.

Eric de Alwis, a businessman in the area and a pioneer in establishing a sports club has watched generations of young enjoy the ground.

He feels that it would be a great tragedy to lose the ground. "People need some recreation in their lives and it is a must for everyone. But this playground is different for it has sentimental value. Most of the residents and their children have grown up playing here and it holds memories that go back at least fifty years," he said.

Each year, over ten annual events and several other miscellaneous gatherings take place at the ground. And, for anyone who happens to travel that way, be it rain or shine, the sight of people of all ages playing or jogging with the cows and other animals on the far side of the green,the harmony, is unmistakable.

"This is the playground of the ordinary. We can't afford to become members at clubs nor do we wish anyone to play on roads and disturb neighbours. All we ask is to give us a little recreation room of our own. There is ample space in the CGR land on the other side of Ratmalana which could be used for a scheme. Where can we play?" questioned these people.

Although they have successfully received a minimum of 2000 signatures on a protest statement prepared by the sports clubs, they fear that it will only be a matter of time before they lose the ground.

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