Wesley’s Amazing Influence on Sri Lanka Field Hockey -150 years
The great legend will be remembered forever. The father of hockey in Sri Lanka. Mr. Walter P. Jayasuriya an Old Boy of Wesley College, Vice President of Sri Lanka Hockey Federation, & Colombo Hockey Association, National Selector, and an International Hockey Umpire. Mr.Jayasuriya was respected as the person who organized hockey in Ceylon to come up to International standards both in playing the game, umpiring, and officiating. Almost every two years Walter Jayasuriya organized a National Team or a Colombo Hockey team to visit India and sometimes Malaysia, and Thailand.
Walter gained the respect of the Asian hockey countries as the father of hockey in Sri Lanka. He organized the umpiring association, they visited other countries and a few national umpires were promoted as International umpires. Three of the first International umpires were Walter Jayasuriya (Wesleyite), A. Mylvaganam (Wesleyite), and Rohan Amarasinghe (Wesleyite) who was the Chairman Sri Lanka Hockey Umpires Association. Rohan had the recognition of umpiring at the Lahore World Games as an umpire.
The player who not only excelled but promoted hockey to the juniors were Walter’s son, Rajah Jayasuriya. Rajah captained the Wesley team in 1965. Rajah trained the school boys from grade 5 upwards with hockey sticks he used to bring from home. Those who did not have stick he used to break a stick from the Andara Trees at the small park. Most of these players later joined the first X1 team to play for Wesley. He represented the All Island Schools Team and was a member of the Sri Lanka team to the Asian Games. He was also a National Umpire. Rajah Jayasuriya played for the Nationalized Hockey Team. In the mid 1960’s to early 1970’s Wesley had one of the best teams in Sri Lanka.
Rajah Jayasuriya’s son Esanga Jayasuriya captained Wesley in 2004. He represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in 2006. He was the National Goalie.
Rajah contribution cannot be forgotten by those whom he coached and motivated to play hockey for Wesley.
I need to record the contribution of Walter’s daughter NImalJayasuriya who was at Wesley in the Kindergarten. She was the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation and Sri Lanka Schools Hockey Association. She was a selector for both teams. She taught and coached field hockey at Musaeus Girls College, who were a champion team.
Old Wesleyite T.N.M. Mahamooth was a great supporter of National and Colombo Hockey. He assisted Walter Jayasuriya with the team and the tournaments. He was in charge of the Bloomfield hockey team. Wesleyite’s played for the Bloomfield team in the late 1960’s until it was taken to Reid Avenue. Shanti McLelland captained the team, Donald de Silva also played for the team. T. M. K. Mahamooth helped a lot of players to play hockey for the club. He was a V.P of the Colombo Hockey Association and a selector. He was a Lawyer by profession. His two nephews, Kenneth and his brother studied at Wesley and represented the school in hockey.
Mr.Mervyn K. Peiris was another Old Wesleyites who immensely helped hockey in Sri Lanka. He was the President of the Colombo Hockey Association and a Selector for the CHA. He funded the Association a lot to keep the interest active. Mr. Peiris controlled a company that imported and supplied medical equipment. Mervyn hired a few Old Wesleyites to run the company for him. They were Rohan Amarasinghe, Timothy Sela, and Mervyn’s two sons NIhal and Jayanth who were Wesleyites. They left to England when they were young. Old Wesleyite Bill Deutorm took over the company to help Nihal who is now back and taking care of the Mervynson’s Medical Centre.
Lou Adihetty was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in 1962. Rajah Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka at the 1966 Asian Games as a Full Back. Rajah Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka Schools, SLHF, & NSHA), Rohan Amarasinghe visited two or three countries to represent the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation team in 1972, Sri Lanka School Team Vice Captain (1969), MHA, and Umpired at an International Tournament in Lahore in 1982. Clifford Rodrigo (CHA, Sri Lanka 1969), SarathWickremaratne (Govt. Services), Mass ThajoanSwangsa (Sri Lanka 1970, MHA), and A. L. George (Sri Lanka 1971, GSHA 1973). In 1975 Shanti McLelland was selected to play for Sri Lanka and he was selected to visit India on a 30day tour, where they played 15 matches from Trichinopoly to Chandigarh. Kota, Bopal, Delhi, Agra, and Allahabad. Others who joined were HariharanJeganathan (CHA, Sri Lanka 1975) and SriharanJeganathan (CHA, Sri Lanka). AnuraDharmasiriwardana (Sri Lanka 1982, MansarJahn (1986 Sri Lanka Captain), D. C. Perera (Goalie & Captained, Sri Lanka Junior Team 1992), and Shanti McLelland (Wesley College Captain, Colombo Reds, Captain, and Sri Lanka Schools Captain 1967, CHA Captain 1973, Represented Mercantile Hockey Association 1982. Shanti Captained the CHA team who emerged as champions at the National Championships.
Hockey was first introduced to Wesley in late 1940 by Walter Jayasuriya and T.M.KMahamooth after the 2nd World War. Rev. James Cartman was the Principal. Mr.Abeysekara was the Master-in-Charge. After Rev. James Cartman left Wesley to go to England, Mr. Cedric Oorloff was the Principal. Mr. Kenneth de S Lanerolle was the Vice Principal. Later Mr.Oorlof left to become the Principal of TrinityandMr.Lanerolle took over the position of Principal at Kingswood College Kandy. While at Kingswood he became the President of the Sri Lanka School’s Hockey Federation.
The Masters-in-Charge were Mr. Fred Abeysekara and Dalton D’Abrera. They made sure Wesley had one of the best teams in Sri Lanka Schools. After them, Dr. N. A. B Fernando took over the task of being the Master-in-Charge. After Dr. N.A. B. Fernando left Sri Lanka to England, the Vice Principal, Mr. L. A. Fernando took over the task of keeping hockey at the helm. Mr. Fernando was the Treasurer of the Sri Lanka Hockey Federation. He did an enormous task of promoting hockey in Sri Lanka Schools. They imported a large quantity of hockey sticks and distributed to the schools to promote the game. The Indian BalMandal Team visited Sri Lanka during this time. An Indian coach Chatterjith Singh was brought to coach the Schools Team. Shanti McLelland captained the Sri Lanka Schools team. Mr. A. K Suppiah a graduate of the famous Indian Institute took over as coach and master-in-charge. He did a great job keeping hockey very active and as a winning team. Mr. J. P. JeyaratnarajaH who came from Batticaloa, St. Michael’s College took over as Master-in-Charge. He was very popular and built the team to be a champion side.
One of the first National players was A. Mylvaganam who played for Sri Lanka as a fullback. He was one of the best fullback’s Sri Lanka produced. He played with the first teams of Wesley and later played for the National side for many years. Mylvaganam became an International Umpire. He played for the Tamil Union for a long time.
At the time when Lou Adihetty captained Wesley, Dr. Maharoof Ismail played for Wesley. He made sure he took time off to play against the Red Sox team when they visited Sri Lanka. Dr.Mahroof Ismail was a member of the Wesley College Board of Governors. Dr.Mahroof Ismail was in charge of the Medical Institute at Baseline Road, Borella, later the institute was taken to Kynsey Road.
A popular and a very keen player for Wesley was D. S. Wijemanne. He was well known for running the Tuck Shop for Wesley for long time, helping the team always, and was most of the time present at the games.
The next player to represent Sri Lanka was Dr. Lou Adihetty. Lou captained Wesley and was selected to the Asian Games team as a goalkeeper. Lou as a school boy captained 6 teams for Wesley. He captained the Wesley hockey team. Dr. Lou Adihetty brought visiting teams (Red Sox) from Switzerland to play against the Wesley Team.
Kodda Captained the school team in 1961. He was the goalie. He made sure Wesley remained unbeaten and it was a very good team. Kodi was the Captain of the cricket team in 1962 after SenthilSinniah. RusselShockman captained the 1962 team.
Clifford Rodrigo played hockey and cricket, under Kodituwakku in 1961, under Russel Shockman in 1962 and Upali Perera in 1963. Besides Cliffford played with Upali Perera, Bashudeen Musafer (Goalie), Bill Deutrom(Goalie),and Sarath Wickramaratne over the traceable past. Please don’t forget that Clifford Rodrigo won the award for the National Hockey Star at the Senior Hockey Nationals held at the Army ground in 1968. This award was given only for two years. It was at the pinnacle of his Hockey playing days.
Mr. A. Mylwaganam was an accomplished Short Corner specialist in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Lou Adhihetty had done exceptionally well at Oxford. When he returned to Sri Lanka he had an opportunity to represent Sri Lanka as Goal keeper, when Freddie White and Tharmarajah were not available.
Wesley did exceptionally well in Hokey in the 1960’s. Those who excelled and earned National Honours were Rajah Jayasuriya, M. T. Swangsa, Rohan Amarasinghe, and Shanti McLelland. Rohan also became not only an international player but also an international Umpire.
The 1963 year was memorable. It was a year Wesley had one of the best teams. They beat all the schools in Colombo and Kandy. They were unbeaten. UpaliPerera, SarathWickramaratne, C. T. Rodrigo, Rajah Jayasuriya, and M. T. Swangsa represented the District or National sides. Bashudeen Musafer and Bill Deutrom would have been national goalies if they did not give up hockey to play Rugby.
The year UpaliCaptained (1963) we became the champions beating schools like St. Benedict’s Royal etc. the players were:UpaliPerera (Capt.), D.Thurairaja (V.Capt), SarathWickramaratne, C.T.Rodrigo, William Deutrom, Raja Jayasooriya, Bashudeen Musafer, Devon Thiagalingam, Lal Fernando, Milroy Muthuvelu, UpaliSiriwardana, Tyrone Maye, D.Thambiya, Wanigasekara, and M. T. Swagnsa
There were some outstanding players at national level from late 1950’s to early 1960’s. Bashudeen Musafer was an excellent goalie and would have represented Sri Lanka, but he gave up and played Rugger to excel in that game. Bill Deutrom (Goalie) was another player who would have played for Sri Lanka, but immigrated to Australia. Kenneth de Silva is well known for his outstanding cricket. He played for the school Hockey team as a fullback and played for the club team. One of excellent sportsman for Wesley was Sarath Wickramaratne. He was an excellent Cricketer, Athlete, Soccer player, and Hockey Player. He excelled in all the sports. He represented the University, Government Services, Colombo Hockey Association and the Colombo Schools Hockey Association. Darrel May who was Wesley top cricketer and athlete, represented the school’s Hockey, Athletic, and Cricket teams and Captained the Colts Cricket Hockey Club. He won the school one Mile event and bowled Royal out to win the match. His brother TyronneMaye also represented the school team and was a member of the Old Wesleyites team. UpaliPerera (Sri Lanka Army). He played for the College team and later represented the Defence Services. Another player who is to be remembered is Rodney Perera who not only played hockey, but was an excellent cricketer, and an active soccer player.
Dr. Shanti McLelland captained the District Schools, National Schools, Colombo District, and the National team. He captained a team that had the opportunity to play against a visiting Indian team (BalMandal Team). He played in the Corera Cup team that was a National Side. He also toured India with the Colombo team. He captained the Colombo District Nationals in Jaffna. He captained the team to be champions beating the more favoured teams. Later he assisted the Mercantile team to become champions in Galle. Shanti captained the Bloomfield team. Later he formed the Old Wesleyites Team with players like Rohan Amarasinghe (Vice Captain), ZubairHassen, GazziMusafer, HafeezMusafer, Claude de Silva, Donald de Silva, Senaka Amaratunga, Priyantha Perera, Neil Harvie, Christopher Harvie, Dr. Sandy Musafer. Patrick Edema, A. L. Geroge.
Rohan Amarasinghe was a formidable player; he was a very strong full back and helped the team with valuable strategy. Rohan Captained theWesley Team and Played for the Mercantile Hockey Association team. Mercantile was a very strong side with lot of National players. They were national champions number times. Rohan represented the Old Wesleyites team as a Vice Captain and a Captain. He was an International Hockey Umpire with the distinguished record of umpiring a World Cup match in Lahore. Jayalal Jayasekara and M. P Edema (SSP Police) were two good players who were loyal to the team. M. P. Edema represented the CHA team as a goalie.
Claude de Silva coached the Sri Lanka team and the CH&FC team to become champions. Claude represented the Old Wesleyites team, the CHA, and MHA teams. He moved to the United States of America. His younger brother Kingston de Silva played for the Wesley team and represented the Old Wesleyites, and the MHA team.
The Old Wesleyites team was formed in 1972 with young players making the side. A few strong players who were representing other teams did not join as their place in the Sri Lanka side was at stake. Tyronne (Buster) Harvie was one of them; His brother was a selector for the National team and captained the BRC team. Mass Thajoan Swangsa played for the Malays team, and Clifford Rodrigo played for another team. Darrel Maye played for Colts and SarathWickramaratne was out of the country most of the time Rajah Jayasuriya was a member of the Tamil Union. They all were national players.
But the young Old Wesleyites team led by Shanti McLelland and Rohan Amarasinghe, built up a lot of fitness during training to became a champion side winning the Pioneer Shield and Bacon Cup, and to become Runners-Up in the Andriesz Shield. National Goalie A. L. George (Prisons) was in Badulla and travelled to Colombo to keep goals for the side with M. P. Edema (SSP, Police) kept goals when George could not make it to Colombo. I must record that JayalalJayasekara travelled from Bentota for every match without fail. He was working at Bentota Beach Hotel. Others who made the team were, Donald de Silva, Jayantha Wijemanne, Sridharan & Hariharan Jeganathan, Anura Dharmasiriwardane, Claude de Silva, Kingston de Silva, Senaka Amaratunga, Rohan Wickramaratne& Adrian Wickramaratne, Wing Commander Kingsley Samaratunge, Emir Musafer (Goalie), Neil Harvie, M. Jaldin, Tissa Abeydeera, Neil Obeysekara, Sunil Fernando, Tyronne Maye, Sunil Rodrigo, and Dr. Sandy Musafer who played a few games as he was practicing medicine in Kalutara. Master-in-Charge of the team was Mr. L. A. Fernando (Former Vice Principal & Director, US Educational Foundation).
In 2011 The Old Wesleyites team took part in the Colombo Hockey Association tournaments. They won the Pioneer Shield and were Runners-up in the Bacon Cup Knock Out championships. The team was led by Usama Samsudeen.
Other names that can be remembered who were loyal Wesley players, A. Sapideen, S. Thiagalingam (Vice Captain), Shirley Ganegoda (Captain), Dr.Ananda Thevadason (Cricket Captain), Sunil Rodrigo, Kenny Dickson, Diane Herft, Bunty Dole, Delmer Achilles, Patrick Jansz (Goalie), Parakrama Wijemanne, C. Kosgahakumbura, and A. Roberts.
During the 1990’s the flavour and interest for hockey did not materialise, however the spirit of the game continued to live at Wesley and during that era, D.C. Perera and E. Jayasuriya went on to be selected for Sri Lanka schools and later as international players.
Since the millennium there was a resurgence and interest to revive the game of hockey at Wesley. Materialising from that interest many boys went on to be selected for Sri Lanka schools with the last being in 2016. Information regarding Wesleyites who represented Sri Lanka schools and at National and International level along with those who captained the college teams are published in this book separately.
In August 2022 hockey stalwartsof Wesley came forward to provide a stimulus to rekindle the passion for hockey by sponsoring gear and then organising asuccessful inter house hockey tournament. Journeying to her sesquicentennial in 2024, we hope and pray that the game of hockey that Wesley were known to be champions at, will once again rise to adorn the crown in the school arena.
All Information From: Dr. Shanti McLelland (Principal, Wesley College 2009 – 2014, Student, 1953 – 1968) and Rohan Amarasinghe (1956-1972, currently Vice President, OWSC).