Of Senaka Wijenayaka’s heroics in the field of athletics

by K L F Wijedasa

Senaka Wijenayaka of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa had the benefit of being coached by Rev. Brother Patrick from 1956 to 1960 and by Denzil Fernando his senior college athlete from 1959 to1960.

He showed his talent as a middle-distance runner, when he won the Western Group South Schools’ Meet winning the 880yds and the mile event consecutively in 1957, 1958 and 1959.

On October 1st 1960 at the South- East Asian Peninsular Games in Penang, Malaysia , Senaka became the first schoolboy to win a gold medal at an international meet. He was the first Ceylonese athlete to break the two minutes barrier. The Malaysian papers reported “S. Wijenayaka the Ceylon Schoolboy, today broke the South East Peninsular Games record for the 800m. He clocked 1:56.7 secs in the Federation of Malaya Amateur Athletic Union first Peninsular South East Asian Open Championships at the City Stadium.”

At the Ace Athletic Club Invitation Open Meet, Senaka Wijenayaka on a sodden track established a New Ceylon Record in the 880 yards. He was the first Ceylonese to break the two-minute barrier in the 880yds when he clocked 1:58.8 secs in the finals. Senaka produced a powerful sustained burst of speed in the last lap of the 880yds to stave away a strong challenge from his clubmate K.S. Ananthan, to break the two-minute barrier. With his smooth loose action, Senaka Wijenayaka brought on his superior speed and strength on the home stretch to accelerate himself to a superb win. Ananthan who came second returned a time of 2:1.2 secs.

Ceylon Public Schools Association took 12 schoolboys on a tour to Australia. It was managed by two masters, the Secretary of the Public Schools’ Athletic Association, Brookie. C. da Silva of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and J. A. Van Twest of St. Peters’ College. Their debut meet was in Brisbane against the Queensland Public Schools athletes. The star of the International meet – the first of its kind- was Senaka Wijenayaka of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa. He defeated a former champion to win the 880yds race in 1:59.2 secs.

In the next meet, four days later, he won the 880yds from Brisbane Grammar School Champion Bill Howley in 1:58.5 secs.

Senaka Wijenayaka has the unique distinction off claiming five Ceylon records between 1959 and 1965. Three of those were in individual events while the other two were in running the anchor lap in the relays.

Senake Wijenayaka’s record runs are as follows:

800 m (CT & FC)-  1:57.1 secs (18-10-1959)

He improved his own record to 1:55.3secs (on 15.09.63). It stood for nearly seven years until Prasad Perera of the University of Peradeniya clocked 1:53.7secs.

Equalled 400m Record: 49.9 secs (in 1962)

880yards – 1:58.8 secs (in 1962)

4×400 metres (CT & FC)-  3:23.9secs (Nimal Fernando, Lakshman de Alwis, Maurice Fairweather, Senake Wijenayaka)  in 1960

4×400 metres (CT & FC)-  3:22.4secs (W.W. Thambimuttu, Senake Wijenayaka, E.L. Lokubalasuriya, Nimal Fernando) 1964

(4×400 metres (CT & FC)- 3:21.9secs (K.S.Senaratne, Senake Wijenayaka, Lukshman de Alwis, Nimal Fernando) 1965.