Former St. John’s and Sri Sumngala College Panadura, cricketer, athlete and scout, former Master in Charge of Cricket at Sri Sumangala and St. John’s Colleges, Pinwatte Maha Vidyalaya, Mahanama College, District Cricket Manager, Western Province Schools Cricket Representative, Under 15 Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Manager, Executive Committee Member, Sinhala Cricket Commentator Mestiyage Don Upul Wasantha Gunathilake retired from service after serving as a teacher for 40 years recently.
Upul entered Grade One of Sri Sumangala College and for his Advanced Level he joined St. John’s College, Panadura. He first played for the Sumangalian under 13 cricket team and participated at the under 12, 14 and 16 age groups in athletics. His events were 220 yards, high jump and he represented Western Province but he was un successful in the public schools meet.
He represented Panadura Johnians in 1978 and 1979 under Bandula Perera and his coach was Jayantha Weerasinghe . There his events were 440 and 880 yards and Javelin and he was the School Senior Athletic Champion and represented the Western Province.
He joined as a teacher and his first appointment was at Pinwatte Maha Vidyalaya. In addition to his teaching the Principal appointed him as the Master in Charge of Sports at school. Under him five athletes came up to the National Level and one of them won an event at the National Schools Sports Meet held at Anuradhapura.
From there he was transferred to Mahanama Vidyalaya, Panadura and he organized an Inter School Soft Ball Cricket Tournament for Kalutara District Schools and Mahanama won the Championship. One of his pupils Ravindra Pushpakumara excelled in this tournament and he advised him to join St. John’s College and later he went on to represent Sri Lanka in Test Cricket. From there he was transferred to Sri Sumangala in 1992.
There too he was appointed as the Master in Charge of Cricket and Scouting In addition to Inter School Cricket Matches he organized the Big Matches between Moratu Vidyalaya annually. They beat Vidyalians after 21 years under Jayathu Nilaweera and again under Iresh Pushpakumara. Dilruwan Perera and Kithruwan Vithanage shone in the under 13 and 15 teams. Sudesh Umayanga toured Sharjah with the Sri Lanka under 15 team and Lahiru Vimukthi too toured Malaysia with the under 15 Sri Lanka Schools Team. Amila Perera represented Sri Lanka “A” team. He also organized the Inter-House Athletics Sports Meets annually. In 2013 he was transferred to St. John’s College. as the Master in Charge of Sports. In 2013/14 they became under 19 division two Runners up and in 2016/17 they beat Matara Thomians to win the Division Two under 19 title under Nadun Ahangama.
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