Volleyball: 100 years on but Sri Lanka has still not progressed

Sri Lanka is the first country to make volleyball the national sport in South Asian countries and the first in the world. 

It is 100 years since volleyball has been introduced to Sri Lanka and it was in 1916 that the sport came to the island nation. 

It is 65 years since the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation was formed in 1951. 

However to date Sri Lanka men have not been able to win a single championship in the South Asian region. 

To Sri Lanka’s luck we were able to win a women’s championship at the South Asian Games held in Colombo (1991). 

Since then our women too have not been able to win a championship. 

Sri Lanka possesses several talented volleyball players but it is of no use. 

They have not been able to win a single championship, this is a sad situation. 

It is sad to note that volleyball administrators have forgotten that the sport has reached 100 years in the country. 

This was stated by a veteran volleyball player of the 70’s Sunil Premasiri. 

He is a former player of Koswadiya Wijeya, a well known volleyball club in the island. 

At club level Sunil Premasiri was a top level dasher and excelled in jumping dashes. 

He has represented Sri Lanka on three occasions in competitions to China, Pakistan and India. He is a double national player as well. 

His other sport is wrestling. 

In the 1960s Premasiri emerged as a top level school wrestler. 

He won several school level championships from 1965 to 1972. 

He had excelled in volleyball from 1969 to 1983 at school, club and national level. 

Because of his skills in volleyball and wrestling he was taken into the Sports Ministry in 1975 as a Sports Officer. 

Later he blossomed out as a volleyball coach and administrator. 

He is an old boy of St. Sebastian’s Central College, Madampe. 

He is now retired and is aged 64 years. 

“We did not have the facilities that sportsmen enjoy these days. We ate a bun and had a tea from a nearby boutique before taking part in sports. It was in the 1970s and 1980s that the best volleyball players emerged. There were no Asian championships those days, no foreign tours. If we enjoyed those facilities that the present day sportsmen are enjoying, rest assured we could have brought credit to the country. We had players who could dash the ball with great strength."

"To a dash that I gave one day, the air excluded from the ball. Volleyball was played in almost all villages. We had to find our own balls and nets. Or else someone from the village helped us to obtain nets and balls. I had that special to jump and dash the ball. Everyone cannot indulge in that special skill. Today volleyball has been distanced from villages. Only the armed forces indulge in volleyball a great deal. Not in villages. Sri Lanka has reached the milestone of 100 years in volleyball. At least a new era should begin now." 

“If one is to improve volleyball, there should be a host of veteran volleyball players. At least 50 percent. The other 50 percent should consist of volleyball fans. If these two combine, then a great future lies ahead of us,” concluded Sunil Premasiri. 

Sunil Premasiri is the father of three daughters. 

Two are in the United Kingdom and one in Sri Lanka. 

Currently he helps village sports in his retirement.