SSC pays glowing tribute to club stalwart

By Harischandra Gunaratna

The Sinhalese Sports Club paid a glowing tribute to one of its loyal and trusted members last Monday (15) by naming its new state-of-the-art administration block the Nimal Dias Jayasinha Administration Enclave. The new administration enclave was ceremonially opened amidst a large gathering of club members, well-wishers, and a galaxy of past cricketers, which included past Sri Lanka and SSC captains.

The president of the club, I.S. de Silva, addressing the large gathering, said that Jayasinha, a long-standing member, has rendered yeoman service to the club. Therefore, the SSC decided to honour its stalwart by naming the new administration block the Nimal Dias Jayasinha Administration Enclave.

The Club President mentioned that Jayasinha’s journey with the SSC has lasted over five decades, during which period he served the club as its assistant secretary, Honorary Secretary, Vice President, and he is also a Lifetime Trustee. De Silva said Jayasinha hailed from a cricketing family, and his illustrious father, Douglas (DD) Jayasinha, an old boy of Mahinda College, Galle, represented the country with distinction and later served as the chief selector for eleven years.

“Douglas Jayasinha was a person with honesty and integrity, and no one was able to influence his decisions, however powerful they were,” said De Silva. One instance, the then President of the BCCSL, Robert Senanayake, had wanted Jayasinha to change the captain of a team that had already been selected. Jayasinha’s reply to Senanayake was to desist from interfering with the selection process, the SSC President remarked.

He said that Nimal Dias Jayasinha inherited his father’s noble qualities and continues to uphold them. Nimal Dias Jayasingha thanked the President and the Executive Committee for the honour bestowed on him. Jayasinha hailed former Sri Lanka cricket captain Michael Tissera, who graced the occasion, as a cricketer with swagger, panache, and astuteness. Tissera was akin to former Australian captain and commentator Richie Benaud.

Vasantha Wijesekra delivered the welcome address, and Nilanka Pieris delivered the vote of thanks.