E.W. Balasuriya, sporting stalwart from Kandy
Kandy remembers E.W. Balasuriya on his 12th death anniversary. He said good bye in 2010 on 7th of April. He is Known for his great influence in Kandy in the sporting field. He was one of the most versatile sportsmen, sports benefactor, philanthropist and above all a gentleman. His invaluable service for sports in Kandy is remembered by all. He was known as ’Bala’ for some and some called him EW. He was a great lover of sports and gave his best and helped poor sportsmen in a big way. Many are the instances in his illustrious career and public life where he displayed his integrity and honesty which was a shining example of a clean life. As a donor he was unique and, unlike most others, he was freely available to all sportsmen at any time. The city of Kandy has a long history of sport. It is home to a number of sports and EW was the most decorated promoter of all time. His outstanding sports promoting helped many sportsmen to earn a name in rugby.
He had started his schooling at Dharmaraja College and did well in cricket and later went to Ananda College, where he excelled in cricket as a top opening batsmen. During his cricketing days, was rated as one of the stylish and steady opening batsmen. He was famous in stroke-making and an excellent close in fielder. After leaving school, he came to Kandy and played cricket for Kandy United CC and central Province team, in the sporting field he was a key figure. EW as a keen sports promoter and donor helped lesser known sportsmen to hit the top. Only those who were close with this great sports promoter knew about his social activities in which he was deeply involved. During his days, there was hardly any sporting event in Kandy where he was not involved. His pet sport was Cricket and later rugby. The encouragement he gave to players and clubs by way of financial assistance, advice and guidance is well known by many and was freely there to all sportsmen at any time.
He was one time secretary of the central Province Cricket association and later hit the top spot when he was involved in organizing the first official test match in Kandy at the Asgiriya stadium, during the cricket headship of late Gamini Dissanayake and this writer too was in the organizing committee with EW. He is the man who had the gift of making people feel exalted and raised their spirit by a few words of comfort of expression of support. He use to say, don’t worry, do whatever you all like, I will give the backing, and I am there with you all in sports.
He is the founder of the Kandy Lake Club in 1960’s and it was cricket he introduced first and had some top class cricketers in the team like Bertie Gomez, Neville Hearthge, D .D de Alwis, M.E. Marikar, Z.M. Zarook, P.Peries to name a few and took part in all major tournaments of that time. Then the second sport to come in was rugby in 1962 and played in the Ceylon Rugby Football Union “B” division. Some of the people who backed him to start rugger were Col. Stanley Ratwatte, Noel Paranagama, Dr. C.D.L. Fernando, Sydney Ratwatte, all of them are not among the living. In coaching it was Sydney Ratwatte and Maurice Perera who gave hand as coaches and NIyas Majeed was the first captain of the Kandy Lake Club. Then in 1996 EW helped the club to win the “B” division league title under the captaincy of Farook Dole, the original captain was T.B. Wijesinghe, half way through the season he was invited by CR & FC and he crossed over. That champion team was formed with products of St.Anthony’s, Trinity, St. Sylvester’s, Vidyartha, Kingswood, Dharmaraja and St. Paul’s now known as Sri Sumangala. Except for the Trinitians, rest of the team players had never played rugby at that time. This Lake Club after entering the “A” division went places in the rugby field, and some clubs didn’t like it and sad to say they got the knockout blow from authorities of that era for playing professional players, with that blow, E.W. Balasuriya formed the Kandy RFC and played up to 1973 and in that year a suggestion was made by one time Ceylon Rugby Football Union president late Dr. K.B. Sangakara to join Kandy RFC with Kandy SC and E.W. Balasuriya honored the request and amalgamated with Kandy SC in 1974 and played with Kandy SC jersey and Kandy RFC stockings. And in 1975 E.W. Balasuriya became the president of Kandy SC and the team came up to the Clifford Cup semifinals and lost to Air Force. The again in 1986 E.W. became the president with Ashan Ratwatte as the captain and this writer was the team manager cum rugby convenor, that year came up to the R. Premadasa trophy knockout tournament semifinals.
E.W. Balasuriya gave a big hand to all sports in Kandy, and helped many players to do well in life. Still the veterans talk about his good work. He gave a big hand to convert the Bogambara grounds into a stadium and also to Nittwella grounds.