Mr. Neil Perera is 93 today

Former Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka Neil Perera turns 93 today.An Engineer at the Ceylon Electricity Board, Mr. Perera served cricket for more  than 25 years and played a crucial role in nurturing county’s cricket in the formative years and prior to Test status.

Mr. Perera also managed several cricket tours including the 1995 tour of New Zealand when Sri Lanka won their first Test match overseas.

His role in bringing the 1996 World Cup to the sub-continent has been acknowledged by many including the former Indian cricket supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya, who went onto become the President of International Cricket Council.