Wesley College, Colombo celebrated its deep-rooted sporting heritage on Thursday (12) with the re-opening of its 127-year-old restored pavilion at the College Grounds, Campbell Park, Wesley’s spiritual sporting home.
L.R. ‘Lucky’ Goonetilleke, the school’s senior-most player to represent Sri Lanka, considered to be one of the best left-arm fast bowlers Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) has ever produced, attended the occasion as Chief Guest.
The Pavilion Restoration Project is a part of Wesley College’s sesquicentennial (150th year) celebrations and was initiated by the Old Boys’ Union (OBU) spearheaded by Capt. Navin de Silva. The project was carried out under the meticulous supervision of the three pillars of the Pavilion Restoration Project Committee – Chairman Ivor Maharoof, Secretary Shehan Sheriff, and Treasurer S. Renganathan.
Among those who contributed towards the project’s successful implementation were committee members Fahad Nazir, Raveen Wijesekera, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickramaratne, K. Dayaparan, Gerard Fernando, William Deutrom, Principal Avanka Fernando, Goonetilleke, Chartered Architect Murad Ismail, L.C.R. Wijesinghe, Licentiate Architect M.F. Amith, Maj. Gen. Indu Samarakoon, Maithri Vithanage, and Prefect of Games Col. Rizan Hamidon.
Arguably one of the oldest pavilions amongst schools in Sri Lanka, its significance traces back to its acquisition by Wesley College from the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club at Campbell Park in 1940. Believed to have been built in the late 1890s, the pavilion has archaeological value and a history resembling an English country clubhouse.
Methodist Church of Sri Lanka President Rev. Kingsley Weerasinghe, Principal Fernando, St. Benedict’s College Director Rev. Bro. Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha, former national cricketer Michael Tissera, and former double international Chandra Schaffter attended the event alongside many dignitaries.
Wesley’s very own Ian K. Karan (Diamond Donor), Bertie Ekenaike (old boy of St. John’s College, Nugegoda, donor), and St. Benedict’s College OBU representatives were also part of the grand celebrations.
A disciple of world famous Architect Geoffrey Bawa, renowned Architect Ismail volunteered his expertise for this project without charge, a gesture admired by all. Ismail, a proud Thomian, is the son of Wesley old boy Dr. Ifthi Ismail and nephew of Prof. Mahroof Ismail.
The college has played cricket since 1893, with the Royal-Wesley encounter being the second-oldest rivalry in the island after the Royal-Thomian.
Over the years, the pavilion has hosted some of Lanka’s finest cricketers, including the legendary Mahadevan Sathasivam (the only player in the world to captain three countries), C.E. Perera, Abu Fuard, Goonetilleke, M.N. Samsudeen, Brian Classen, S. Jeganathan, Russell Hamer, and in recent years, Farveez Maharoof and Jeffrey Vandersay, in addition to numerous other Wesley cricketers.
Additionally, iconic cricketers from schools across the island, some of whom went on to represent the country, have also graced this historic pavilion. Beyond cricket, generations of Wesley sportsmen in rugby, athletics, soccer, and hockey, including the legendary A. Mylvaganam (father of Ceylon hockey) and Dr. Lou Adhihetty (first Ceylonese to win hockey ‘Blue’ at the University of Cambridge) have graced the green of Campbell Park and these hallowed walls.
As a testament to their shared history, every Wesleyite has, at some point, walked through the sacred pavilion, which stands as a timeless symbol of the college’s cherished heritage.