Former Moratu Vidyalaya athlete and cricketer Moratuwa Sports Club, Kalutara Public Cricket Club cricketer, cricket coach, former district coach Colombo and Kalutara, Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Umpire and presently Kalutara PCC coach Sumith Prasanna spoke to the Daily News at his residence at 35/4, Uswatte, Moratuwa.
Q - Can you tell something briefly about yourself and your family?
A - My full name is HettiArachchige Sumith Prasanna and I was born on 1st February 1971 and my father is HettiArachchige Senaratne and my mother is Mahamudalige Mallika Dias and both of them were Goverment clerks. My father was at the Urban Council Moratuwa and my mother was attached to the Social Services Department, Borella. I have an elder sister and two younger sisters. We hail from Moratuwa and we are Catholics.
Q - What is your first school?
A - My first school was Roman Catholic School, Moratuwa and the principal was Stanley Perera and my first class6 teacher was Mrs. Malani Mallika. I became the under 9 and 11 athletic champion and after passing the grade five exam I was put to Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
Q - Your parents being devout Catholics why did they send you to a leading Buddhist school?
A - Actually my mother vehemently opposed and she wanted to put me at St. Sebastian’s or Prince of Wales’ but my father, my present principal and the then principal of Moratu Vidyalaya W. Wettasinghe were best of pals and both of them insisted my father to put me to Moratu Vidyalaya and father had no other option.
Q - How do you commence your cricket career?
A - My first love was athletics and I took part and won the under 12, 14, 16 and 19 championship in athletics at school. My events were 800, 1500 yards and Long Jump. One day one of our old boys Lakshman de Alwis saw me running and he arranged me an athletic scholarship with all facilities at the Ministry of Sports, Torrington Square. I was trained by Mr. Alwis and four other of his assistants. When there is no athletics at school I used to play softball cricket with my classmates. This was noticed by one of our senior cricketer Lucky Rogers and he asked me to attend cricket practices and immediately got selected for the under 15 team and I could not play in the under 13. From there I played for the under 17 and first eleven cricket teams. I continued athletics too and participated at Divisional, Zonal, Western and in Public Meets. I was placed third at Public Schools and I got school colours. I played for the badminton team and I was the opening batsman and wicket-keeper of the side throughout my career.
Q - Who is your first cricket coach?
A - My first coach was Old Vidyalian Bernard Perera and then Chandana Mahesh. I played for the under 15 and 17 in the Astra Trophy and thereafter under 19 in the Sharona Trophy. We won the championship by beating President’s College Kotte under Lucky Rogers and promoted to division one. In the following year I played under Indrajith Nishantha and I played in two big matches and in my final year I carried away the Best Fielder’s prize. In the same year I played for Moratuwa Sports Club in Division three under Hemal Fernando in 1987 and playing under Wirantha Fernando. I scored 101 and 104 against Lankans Sports Club and Muthuwella Sports Club respectively in division two. Under Ajith Wasantha I played in the under 21 tournament and later I played under Roger Wijesuriya in Sara Trophy.
Q - How do you commence your coaching career?
A - I started with Moratu Vidyalaya in my first year itself we were runners up in the under 17 and promoted to division one and in the same year. We became division two under 15 champions and promoted to division one and in the next year we became under 13 division two champions and promoted to division one. Since then Vidyalaya is playing all these three tournaments in division one.
Q - Did you continue coaching at Moratu Vidyalaya?
A - I was introduced to the principal of Royal College Panadura H.G. Somasiri by the principal of Taxila Vidyalaya Sarikkalimulla Kamal Fernando and I took up the coaching stints over there and the principal gave his fullest co-operation. Later Sarath Chandra Silva and Mohan Lal Gunaransi extended their fullest support. I served as the coach cum master in charge of cricket for more than 15 years. In Sri Lanka only myself and Rohana de Silva of Revatha College Balapitiya has achieved this very rare feat. This year I was transferred to Halim Muslim Vidyalaya and the principal M. Hakeem appointed me as the master in charge of sports but there is no cricket at this school. Mr. Somasiri went all out to get me the librarian post.
Q - What was your performance in coaching at Royal?
A - During my 20 years I was able to get 23 championships and 3 runner-up in all divisions and in 2013 Kalutara PCC became runner-up in Sara Trophy. The present provincial coach Mahesh Weerasinghe is leading with 61 championships in all divisions and his brother Dinesh who is at Lumbini Vidyalaya second with 42 and L. H. Sunil third with 40 and I am in fourth place with 36. During my time Royal became the Best Outstation Division Two team and Division One Outstation team three times. Kalutara PCC became under 23 runner-up and then 2 limited over championships with another one joint champ and one runner-up.
Q - Have you passed the Umpire’s Exam?
A - I have level one and two.
Q - Who are the players you have produced during your career?
A - Chamara Silva the test and one day player. Youth and National players are Gamika Hewawasam, Manoj Chanaka, Sudesh Umayanga, Manoj Deshapriya, Kasun Samarasinghe, Madhawa Nimesh, Thenuka Dhananjaya, Akila Lakshan and Prashan Kalhara to mention a few. Also there are several players who have excelled in various formats of cricket in Sri Lanka and abroad and there are umpires and coaches too whom I have coached for three years at Sri Sumangala, Panadura.
Q - When you are at Royal how many teams did you coach?
A - In our school cricket academy there are three teams and in the under 13 and 15 three teams each and under 15 and under 17 two and one second eleven and first eleven team. All these teams were coached by me and I did not have a subordinate. I was also the Master in Charge and I had to do my duties as a Librarian at school.
Q - Are your children engaged in any sports?
A - I have a daughter and a son. My wife Manoja Kumari is a tower of strength to me at all times. She was an athlete and a basketball player at Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa and my son Sukitha Manoj is presently captaining the St. Sebastian’s under 15 cricket team that reached the quarterfinals. He toured Malaysia with the under 15 Sri Lanka Schools cricket team.
Q - What is the advice you can give to the up and coming young cricketers?
Former Moratu Vidyalaya athlete and cricketer Moratuwa Sports Club, Kalutara Public Cricket Club cricketer, cricket coach, former district coach Colombo and Kalutara, Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Umpire and presently Kalutara PCC coach Sumith Prasanna spoke to the Daily News at his residence at 35/4, Uswatte, Moratuwa.
Q - Can you tell something briefly about yourself and your family?
A - My full name is HettiArachchige Sumith Prasanna and I was born on 1st February 1971 and my father is HettiArachchige Senaratne and my mother is Mahamudalige Mallika Dias and both of them were Goverment clerks. My father was at the Urban Council Moratuwa and my mother was attached to the Social Services Department, Borella. I have an elder sister and two younger sisters. We hail from Moratuwa and we are Catholics.
Q - What is your first school?
A - My first school was Roman Catholic School, Moratuwa and the principal was Stanley Perera and my first class6 teacher was Mrs. Malani Mallika. I became the under 9 and 11 athletic champion and after passing the grade five exam I was put to Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
Q - Your parents being devout Catholics why did they send you to a leading Buddhist school?
A - Actually my mother vehemently opposed and she wanted to put me at St. Sebastian’s or Prince of Wales’ but my father, my present principal and the then principal of Moratu Vidyalaya W. Wettasinghe were best of pals and both of them insisted my father to put me to Moratu Vidyalaya and father had no other option.
Q - How do you commence your cricket career?
A - My first love was athletics and I took part and won the under 12, 14, 16 and 19 championship in athletics at school. My events were 800, 1500 yards and Long Jump. One day one of our old boys Lakshman de Alwis saw me running and he arranged me an athletic scholarship with all facilities at the Ministry of Sports, Torrington Square. I was trained by Mr. Alwis and four other of his assistants. When there is no athletics at school I used to play softball cricket with my classmates. This was noticed by one of our senior cricketer Lucky Rogers and he asked me to attend cricket practices and immediately got selected for the under 15 team and I could not play in the under 13. From there I played for the under 17 and first eleven cricket teams. I continued athletics too and participated at Divisional, Zonal, Western and in Public Meets. I was placed third at Public Schools and I got school colours. I played for the badminton team and I was the opening batsman and wicket-keeper of the side throughout my career.
Q - Who is your first cricket coach?
A - My first coach was Old Vidyalian Bernard Perera and then Chandana Mahesh. I played for the under 15 and 17 in the Astra Trophy and thereafter under 19 in the Sharona Trophy. We won the championship by beating President’s College Kotte under Lucky Rogers and promoted to division one. In the following year I played under Indrajith Nishantha and I played in two big matches and in my final year I carried away the Best Fielder’s prize. In the same year I played for Moratuwa Sports Club in Division three under Hemal Fernando in 1987 and playing under Wirantha Fernando. I scored 101 and 104 against Lankans Sports Club and Muthuwella Sports Club respectively in division two. Under Ajith Wasantha I played in the under 21 tournament and later I played under Roger Wijesuriya in Sara Trophy.
Q - How do you commence your coaching career?
A - I started with Moratu Vidyalaya in my first year itself we were runners up in the under 17 and promoted to division one and in the same year. We became division two under 15 champions and promoted to division one and in the next year we became under 13 division two champions and promoted to division one. Since then Vidyalaya is playing all these three tournaments in division one.
Q - Did you continue coaching at Moratu Vidyalaya?
A - I was introduced to the principal of Royal College Panadura H.G. Somasiri by the principal of Taxila Vidyalaya Sarikkalimulla Kamal Fernando and I took up the coaching stints over there and the principal gave his fullest co-operation. Later Sarath Chandra Silva and Mohan Lal Gunaransi extended their fullest support. I served as the coach cum master in charge of cricket for more than 15 years. In Sri Lanka only myself and Rohana de Silva of Revatha College Balapitiya has achieved this very rare feat. This year I was transferred to Halim Muslim Vidyalaya and the principal M. Hakeem appointed me as the master in charge of sports but there is no cricket at this school. Mr. Somasiri went all out to get me the librarian post.
Q - What was your performance in coaching at Royal?
A - During my 20 years I was able to get 23 championships and 3 runner-up in all divisions and in 2013 Kalutara PCC became runner-up in Sara Trophy. The present provincial coach Mahesh Weerasinghe is leading with 61 championships in all divisions and his brother Dinesh who is at Lumbini Vidyalaya second with 42 and L. H. Sunil third with 40 and I am in fourth place with 36. During my time Royal became the Best Outstation Division Two team and Division One Outstation team three times. Kalutara PCC became under 23 runner-up and then 2 limited over championships with another one joint champ and one runner-up.
Q - Have you passed the Umpire’s Exam?
A - I have level one and two.
Q - Who are the players you have produced during your career?
A - Chamara Silva the test and one day player. Youth and National players are Gamika Hewawasam, Manoj Chanaka, Sudesh Umayanga, Manoj Deshapriya, Kasun Samarasinghe, Madhawa Nimesh, Thenuka Dhananjaya, Akila Lakshan and Prashan Kalhara to mention a few. Also there are several players who have excelled in various formats of cricket in Sri Lanka and abroad and there are umpires and coaches too whom I have coached for three years at Sri Sumangala, Panadura.
Q - When you are at Royal how many teams did you coach?
A - In our school cricket academy there are three teams and in the under 13 and 15 three teams each and under 15 and under 17 two and one second eleven and first eleven team. All these teams were coached by me and I did not have a subordinate. I was also the Master in Charge and I had to do my duties as a Librarian at school.
Q - Are your children engaged in any sports?
A - I have a daughter and a son. My wife Manoja Kumari is a tower of strength to me at all times. She was an athlete and a basketball player at Our Lady of Victories Convent, Moratuwa and my son Sukitha Manoj is presently captaining the St. Sebastian’s under 15 cricket team that reached the quarterfinals. He toured Malaysia with the under 15 Sri Lanka Schools cricket team.
Q - What is the advice you can give to the up and coming young cricketers?
A - Not only cricketers everybody should be religious initially then you must obey your parents, teachers and elders. If you follow these four precepts you will come up the ladder in life.
Note: Sumith can be contacted on 0773259772 - Not only cricketers everybody should be religious initially then you must obey your parents, teachers and elders. If you follow these four precepts you will come up the ladder in life.
Note: Sumith can be contacted on 0773259772
0 comments:
Post a Comment