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The Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) came into existence after
the 1899 combined colleges XI team had lost to Colts
CC by just one run. In that era clubs were formed on
ethnic lines and Sinhalese Sports Club fell in line in
1899. Others were the CCC, Malay CC, Colts CC, Bloomfield
C & AC, BRC and shortly after SSC, Tamil Union C & AC.
Members of the 1899 Combined
Colleges XI - C.E.
perera (Captain), R. Wickramasinghe, W.O. Nathanielsz,
(all from Wesley),
F.L. Goonawardena, M.S. Gunaratne, D.L. de Saram, (all
from St Thomas), H. de Silva and W. Fernando (St.
Josephs), D.B. Gunasekera, E. Weerasooriya and F. A.
Obeysekera (all from Royal).
Scores :
Colts CC 196 & Combined Colleges 195
After this game gathering of
young Sinhalese cricketers which included the members of
the combined colleges team and the senior Sinhalese
citizens met on March 28th 1899 at the old Wesley College
hall (Wesleyian mission house) at dam street Pettah. The
convenor was H.J.V Ekanayake of Wesley college. Among the
others were Harry Ellawala, Vincent de Silva, Phillip de
Silva, M.S. Gunaratne, D.B. Jayatillake, D.W. Subasinghe
and F.de Silva. An illustrious old Wesleyite D.B.
Jayatillake (later Sir D.B) presided at the meeting. The
first President was Sir Harry Dias, Hony. secretary
H.J.V.I Ekanayake, Hony. treasurer Philip de Silva
and cricket captain O.G. de Alwis.
SSC team was from the inception
patronised by five Wesleyites C.E. Perera, C.A. Perera,
R.E.S. Mendis, W.D. Abraham, F.W. Dias, all Wesley
captains except R.E.S. Mendis.Royalists were F.A.
Obeysekera, E.I. Gunasekera, R.A.I Ekanayake, E.
Weerasooriya, F.A.C. Tirimanna (five formaer captains),
D.W. Subasinghe and D.B. Gunasekera. The Thomians were D.L.
de Saram, A.E. Abeykoon, A.F. Molamure, F.L. Gunawardena,
W.B. de Saram, shelton de Saram, O.G. de Alwis, five
captains in the list.
from " The Handbook of
Ceylon Cricket and other sports"
P.L. Bartholamousz,
Times of Ceylon
SSC is the number one test cricket
venue in Sri Lanka today and Board of Control for Cricket
in Sri Lanka head quarters is located there. |
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