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Singhalese Sports Club


The Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) was inaugurated in the year 1899 and has been in existence for 125 years. The SSC was started by a group of distinguished Ceylonese consisting of lawyers, legislators, businessmen, proprietary planters and civil society leaders of that time, and was established as a cricket club, and even to this day, cricket is the core activity of the Club.

In those days Cricket Clubs in Ceylon now known as Sri Lanka were formed on ethnic lines. The Europeans, Malays, Burghers, Tamils, Moors and Parsees came into existence in the order mentioned. The Singhalese formed their Club a few months prior to the formation of the Tamil Union C&AC. These ethnic Clubs did not mean the colossal confusion of today. Crowds flocked to witness these Clubs battle it out . There was complete harmony.

History of the Club


 

The Singhalese Sports Club was formed at meeting held on March 27th 1899 at Wesley College Hall situated at St Sebastians hill – 35 members attended the meeting.
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In March 1899 the Combined Colleges (which happened to be an all Singhalese eleven XI) lost by one run to Colts CC. This great effort was the spur to form a  Club for the Singhalese. The combined Colleges XI was C.E. Perera (Capt), R. Wickremasinghe, W.O.Nathanielsz (all Wesley College) F.L. Goonewardena, M.S. Gooneratne & D.L. de Saram (St. Thomas College) H.de Silva and W. Fernando (St. Joseph's) F.A. Obeysekera, E. Weerasuriya, D.B. Gunasekara(Royal College). In those days Royal College was at San Sebastian Hill Pettah, Wesley at Dam Street Pettah, St. Josephs at Suduwella (now Maradana), St. Thomas' Mutuwal. C.E. Perera the finest school boy batsman was a member of the Colts CC and SSC.

The Convenor of the Meeting to form a club was H.J.V.I. Ekanayake of Wesley College, (Later a District Judge). Other names associated with the Inauguration of the Club are given later. One of the finest products of Wesley College, D.B. Jayatilleke then on the staff presided, later he was to be Principal of Ananda College, a member of the Legislative Council & was Knighted by his Majesty the King of England. The meeting was held at the Wesley College Hall Dam Street Pettah.

There was close affinity between the Royalists & Wesleyites & this was evident in the composition of the Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Team in the early years.A few of the early matches were originaly played at Price Park, now call A.E.Goonasinghe play ground.

In 1900 the Club was able to obtain a lease of the land adjoining the Colombo Museum. The large extent was covered with Cinnamon shrubs & the soil was sandy. Much labour & expense was needed to bring the land into a good cricket ground. When leveled out the out field was sandy & scoring of four was difficult. Gradually the handicaps were overcome & a matting pitch laid out. A tent was pitched (where the Nomads CC Pavilion now stands) to serve as a pavilion on match days. Although a committee was appointed to collect funds for improving the grounds & building a pavilion not much progress was made till about 1910.

The First Match of the Club

The Handbook of Ceylon Cricket – Other Field Sports (1902) reports the scores of the first match played by the Club. The Ceylon Annual mentioned B. Tennakoon having a match bag of 10 wickets for SSC vs Galle. The Ceylon Independent of 15.07.1901 – commenting on the magnificent performance of the Singhalese Sports Club in their first match stated "The SSC a new organization has taken the cricket world by storm. Their first essay entitles them to an undisputed place amongst the First Class Clubs & its expectations are not hopelessly falsified. The Club is hopeful of giving the Colts much trouble in maintaining their rights to the style & dignity of the Premier Club.Not long after the SSC met the Colts CC in 1902 but were beaten by an innings and 19 runs. "

 The Colombo Cricket Club / Colts CC or the NCC/Colts CC match held pride of place in local First Class Club Cricket, but with the formation of the SSC, the Colts CC/SSC match attracted much attention. The First President of the Club was Sir Harry Dias, First Hony. Secretary H.J.V.I. Ekanayake, First Treasurer Philip de Silva & First Cricket Captain – O.G. de Alwis. The Club attracted the best school boy players from Royal, S. Thomas’, Wesley, St. Josephs & Trinity.

S.P. Foenander writing the history of Colombo Colts Cricket Club (1941) says “powerful though the SSC were in that first decade of their history they were never able to inflict a defeat on the Colts who were almost invincible in those days. It was not until 1913 SSC were able to defeat the Colts CC for the first time. It was a sensational finish when SSC won by 4 runs at the Racquet Court grounds.

Played on Galle Face on July 14th 1901, and won by the SSC by 189 runs on the 1st innings.

Singhalese Sports Club

Shelton de Saram c Jackson b Gibson 21
A.E. Abeykoon b Howarth 15
M.S. Gooneratne b Gibson 07
D.L. de Saram c F. De Saram b Gibson 132
O.G. de Alwis c Howarth b Gibson 22
E. Weerasuriya b Gibson 24
D.B. Gunasekera c Sewell b Gibson 12
F.L. Gunasekera not out 33
A.F. Tirimanne c Gibson b Howarth 03
W.B. de Saram not out 13
A.F. Molamure to bat 00

Total (for 8 wickets) 303
(Innings declared closed)

Colombo Sports Club

F.G. Tyrell b Abeykoon 02
F. May b D. de Saram 28
F.J. de Saram b D. de Saram 14
H.E. Sewell run out 07
G.H. Gibson b Gunasekera 13
W.H. Howarth b Molamure 10
Hon. R. Ponsonby b Weerasooriya 02
W.H. Moor b Weerasooriya 17
W.H. Jackson not out 02
A. Leighton b Gunasekera 00
A.D. Michie b Gunasekera 04

Extras 15

Total 114

BOWLING ANALYSIS

Singhalese Sports Club  O M
D.L. de Saram 13 1 30 2
*Abeykoon 10 2 24 1
de Alwis 5 1 7 0
**Molamure 8 2 8 1
Gunasekera 9 1 26 3
Weerasuriya 5 2 4 2

* Bowled 2 no balls
***Bowled 1 no balls

BOWLING ANALYSIS

COLOMBO SPORTS CLUB O M R W
Howarth 23 3 103 2
Gibson 36 5 93 6
A.J.G. Field 8 2 23 0
Jackson 1 0 10 0
Moor 8 1 32 0
Michie 4 0 17 0
Leighton 1 0 6 0

* Bowled 2 no balls
**Bowled 1 no balls

Presidents of the Club

Sir Harry Dias

1899 to 1901

Sir Solomon C Obeysekera

1901 to 1927

Sir James Peiris

1927 to 1930

Rt Hon D S Senanayake

1899 to 1901

Rt Hon Sir John L Kotalawala

1952 to 1980

His Excellency J R Jayawardene

1980 to 1996

Mr G Ryle J de Soysa

1997 to 1998

Mr. I. S De Silva

2021 to Present

Mr Daya Perera

1999 to 2008

Mr W.T. Ellawala

2008 to 2021

Honorary Secretaries



Mr H J V Ekanayake - 1899 to 1901
Mr H M Gunasekara - 1901 to 1910
Mr L Duff - 1910 to 1911
Mr J H A Mendis - 1911 to 1913
Mr F A Obeysekara - 1913 to 1915
Mr L H de Alwis - 1915 to 1921
Mr Leonard Peiris - 1921 to 1924
Mr Bernard Jayasuriya - 1924 to 1926
Mr Leonard Peiris - 1926 to 1927
Mr Raja Hewawitarana - 1927 to 1928
Mr L V Goonaratna - 1928 to 1932
Mr H B Kannangara - 1932 to 1937
Mr Robert Senanayake - 1937 to 1939
Mr S T L de Soysa - 1939 to 1940
Mr H V de Silva - 1940 to 1942
Mr GR J de Soysa - 1942 to 1946
Mr H V C de Silva - 1946 to 1949
Mr Somavira Gunasekara - 1949 to 1955
Mr N L A de Mel - 1955 to 1960
Mr L R Cooray - 1960 to 1972
Col F C de Saram - 1972 to 1979
Dr O R Medonza - 1979 to 1982
Mr I S de Silva - 1982 to 1988
Mr R J de Silva - 1988 to 1996
Mr Sarath Kodagoda - 1996 to 1997
Mr Ranjith Eriyagama - 1997 to 2001
Mr Mohan A C de Silva - 2001 to 2004
Mr A D H Samaranayaka - 2004 to 2007
Mr Nimal Dias Jayasinha - 2007 to 2009
Mr A D H  Samaranayake  - 2009 to 2019
Mr. Vasantha Wijesekera - 2019 to Date

Honorary Treasurers



Mr Philip L de Siva - 1899 to 1901
Mr H M Gunasekara - 1901 to 1910
Mr D B Gunasekara - 1910 to 1911
Mr J HA Mendis - 1911 to 1913
Mr Geo E de Livera - 1913 to 1915
Mr H M Gunasekara - 1915 to 1918
Mr D H P Abeywardena - 1918 to 1920
Mr Edwin I Gunasekara - 1920 to 1924
Mr Donald Gunasekara - 1924 to 1931
Mr Justin Kotalawala - 1931 to 1934
Mr B E R Cooray - 1934 to 1937
Mr C E Jayawardene - 1937 to 1938
Mr E D Samarawickrema - 1938 to 1940
Mr K A Albert Perera - 1940 to 1943
Mr B M Pieris - 1943 to 1948
Mr B E R Cooray - 1948 to 1950
Mr G H Wijeratne - 1950 to 1952
Mr V G P Fernando - 1952 to 1953
Mr R Amerasinghe - 1953 to 1955
Mr N S L Perera - 1955 to 1960
Mr Mr Hector de Silva - 1960 to 1964
Mr Fred Jayasinghe - 1964 to 1967
Mr W T Ellawala - 1967 to 1983
Mr Mahinda Ellepola - 1983 to 1986
Mr Michael J de Zoysa - 1986 to 1993
Mr Sarath L Kodagoda - 1993 to 1996
Mr Kumar Abaynayaka - 1996 to 1998
Mr A D H Samaranayaka - 1999 to 2004
Mr Ameen Bhaila - 2004 to 2006
Mr Jehan Amaratunga - 2006 to 2007
Mr G D Sunil Peiris - 2007 to 2009
Mr Suren Goonawardene - 2009 to 2019
Mr. Nilanka Pieris - 2019 to Date

Maitland Place


  • On February 15th, 1949 SSC was given possession of nearly 20 acres of land of the former Ashmore Golf Links.
  • 99 year Lease agreement for 19 acres & 15 perches signed on February 15th, 1949. From this land 4 acres was given to D S Senanayake College in the mid 1980’s.
  • On March 6th, 1955 the Pavilion was opened.
  • For the construction of the Pavilion, the great entertainer Mr Donavan Andree contributed RS 3 lakhs.
  • In the morning, a match was played between Parliamentarians of Ceylon and SSC “ Old Crocks”. This was easily won by the Parliamentarians. SSC “ Old Crocks” 73 (Sir John Kotalawala 4 for 20, Dr N M Perera 5 for 13), Parliamentarians 86 for 7 (Dr N M Perera 29 rt, Mr Dudley Senanayake 28 rt)

Price Park & Victoria Park

Victoria Park

OPENING OF GROUND – 1917

Victoria Park

OPENING OF PAVILION – 1923
  • The day’s events was concluded in evening with a social and dance
  • The expenditure for the opening ceremony was RS 3316.85!
  • September 9th, 1981 EXCO of SSC approved for dialogue with BCCSL President seeking funds for upgrading SSC as a Test venue
  • October 7th, 1981 BCCSL agreed to make SSC a Premier Test ground & site BCCSL Headquarters within the club premises
  • March 17th, 1982 BCCSL officially confirmed sitting of BCCSL at Club premises
  • 1983 - BCCSL Headquarters, 1990 Opening of indoor cricket nets, 1993 - Reliance Pavilion & Pavilion for Match Referee & 3rd Umpire , 1994 - Philips VIP Pavilion, 1995 - Seylan Pavilion

The New Pavilion

March 6th, 1955

Sir John L Kotalawala

Lights the oil lamp

The Parliamentarians & SSC Old Crocks

The Gates at the SSC Have Been Named After Past Legends


F C De Saram Gate

1996

C H Gunasekara Gate 1996

1996

Click to go to SSC Club Cricket >

SSC Players who Played for Ceylon / Sri Lanka


D.B. Gunasekara
D.B. Gunasekara
R.E.S. Mendis
R.E.S. Mendis
E. Weerasuriya
E. Weerasuriya
A. Perera
A. Perera
S.S. Jayawickrama
S.S. Jayawickrama
F.C. De Saram
F.C. De Saram
C.I. Gunasekara
C.I. Gunasekara
L.E. De Soysa
L.E. De Soysa
D.S. Jayasundere
D.S. Jayasundere
Ben Navaratne
Ben Navaratne
E.I. ,D.B., V.R. & C.H. Gunasekara
E.I. ,D.B., V.R. & C.H. Gunasekara
C.H. Gunasekara
C.H. Gunasekara
L.D.S. Gunasekra
L.D.S. Gunasekra
D.B. Gunasekara
D.B. Gunasekara
D.S. Jayasuriya
D.S. Jayasuriya
F.C. De Seram
F.C. De Seram
A.G. Gooneratne
A.G. Gooneratne
M.O. Gooneratne
M.O. Gooneratne
R.B. Wijesinghe
R.B. Wijesinghe
G. Goonasena
G. Goonasena
M. Rodrigo
M. Rodrigo
F.G. Dalpathado
F.G. Dalpathado
H.S.M. Peiris
H.S.M. Peiris
C.H. Goonasekara (Junior)
C.H. Goonasekara (Junior)
L. Rodrigo
L. Rodrigo
A.P.B. Tennekoon
A.P.B. Tennekoon
Neil Chanmugam
Neil Chanmugam
Anurudda Polonowita
Anurudda Polonowita
P. I. Pieris
P. I. Pieris
Asantha de Mel
Asantha de Mel
Roy Dias
Roy Dias
Duleep Mendis
Duleep Mendis
S. Wettimuni
S. Wettimuni
Arjuna Ranatunga
Arjuna Ranatunga
Mithra Wettimuni
Mithra Wettimuni
Guy De Alwis
Guy De Alwis
Saliya Ahangama
Saliya Ahangama
Dammika Ranatunge
Dammika Ranatunge
A. Gurusinghe
A. Gurusinghe
P. Wickramasinghe
P. Wickramasinghe
S. Ranatunge
S. Ranatunge
M. Atapattu
M. Atapattu
Jayantha Silva
Jayantha Silva
N. Zoysa
N. Zoysa
M. Jayawardena
M. Jayawardena
Ruchira Perera
Ruchira Perera
A. Gunawardene
A. Gunawardene
M Munasinghe
M Munasinghe
D. Fernando
D. Fernando
T. Kandambi
T. Kandambi
T. Samaraweera
T. Samaraweera
K. Lokuarachchi
K. Lokuarachchi
T. Thushara
T. Thushara
D. Prasad
D. Prasad
T. Paranavitana
T. Paranavitana
Kaushal Silva
Kaushal Silva
S. Perera
S. Perera
Rochana Jayawardana
Rochana Jayawardana
D. Karunaratne
D. Karunaratne
S. Senanayake
S. Senanayake
Dasun Shanaka
Dasun Shanaka
D. Gunathilake
D. Gunathilake
Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis
Charith Asalanka
Charith Asalanka
A. Gunawardene
A. Gurusinghe
A. Perera
A.G. Gooneratne
A.P.B. Tennekoon
Arjuna Ranatunga
Asantha de Mel
Ben Navaratne
C.H. Goonasekara (Junior)
C.H. Gunasekara
D. Fernando
D. Gunathilake
D. Karunaratne
D. Prasad
D.B. Gunasekara
D.S. Jayasundere
D.S. Jayasuriya
Dammika Ranatunge
Dasun Shanaka
Duleep Mendis
E. Weerasuriya
E.I. ,D.B., V.R. & C.H. Gunasekara
F.C. De Saram
F.C. De Seram
F.G. Dalpathado
G. Goonasena
Guy De Alwis
H.S.M. Peiris
Jayantha Silva
K. Lokuarachchi
Kaushal Silva
L. Rodrigo
L.D.S. Gunasekara
L.E. De Soysa
M Munasinghe
M. Atapattu
M. Jayawardena
M. Rodrigo
M.O. Gooneratne
Mithra Wettimuni
N. Zoysa
Neil Chanmugam
P. I. Pieris
P. Wickramasinghe
R.B. Wijesinghe
R.E.S. Mendis
Rochana Jayawardana
Roy Dias
Ruchira Perera
S. Perera
S. Ranatunge
S. Senanayake
S. Wettimuni
S.S. Jayawickrama
Saliya Ahangama
T. Paranavitana
T. Samaraweera
T. Thushara
T. Kandambi