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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

United we stand, divided we fall is what Sri Lanka Motor Sports today is all about. And that inference comes from none other than a former race ace Ranjith Chandrasekera, who has been holidaying in Sri Lanka.

Chandrasekera has been domiciled in Melbourne, Australia with his family (wife and three daughters) since 1983, and his visit to the country of his birth after 18 years coincided with SLARDAR (the Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders) felicitating him for the contribution he has made to motor sport.

In fact, it was Chandrasekera who formed the SLARDAR in 1983, shortly before he left for Australia.

"It was formed to look after the interests of the competitors which was lacking at that time," said Chandrasekera on his return.

He is happy to note that it has grown to such an extent that he is able to boast that it is the richest motor sports association in this country, despite there being older associations like the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club, the Sri Lanka Motor Sports Club and the Kandy Motor Sports Club. The inscription on the golden plaque that SLARDAR presented to him at a reception held at Hotel Taj Samudra says it all: "SLARDAR has withstood the rigours of motor racing in Sri Lanka and has kept its flag flying at the helm since 1983. Your dream and ambition has been upheld throughout the past 18 years and the members will continue to uphold those traditions".

What saddens Chandrasekera is the lack of unity among the motor sports associations, which in his opinion has led to the sport not being able to raise its head.

"All the associations must support each other if motor racing in this country is to get anywhere. Everybody must get together, co-ordinate and do something for the sport. There should not be any factions in sport," said Chandrasekera.

"There is a lot of club politics taking place which this sport can ill-afford. This is not a sport everybody can afford because it is quite expensive. It is sad to note that even within that limited capacity there are factions between associations," he said.

Chandrasekera accepted the fact that due to the security situation in the country, motor races could not be held freely as it was some 20 years ago.

"There are a lot of hardships the organisers have to go through if they are to hold a meet. This also has had an adverse effect in the sport not moving ahead," he said.

Chandrasekera recalled the times when India used to wait for the Sri Lankan riders and drivers to arrive there to learn from them about new machines and models and, how races are conducted in Sri Lanka.

"Since that time, India has forged ahead and we are still lagging behind," noted Chandrasekera.

In his heyday, Chandrasekara distinguished himself as a top notch racing motor cyclist winning many laurels at home as well as in India. He raced for 11 years from 1972, his pet event being the 250cc where he reigned supreme. He also raced in the 350cc and 750cc events. When he came into the limelight, motor cycling giants like U.D. Jinadasa, Chandra de Costa were nearing the end of their distinguished careers.

Among Chandrasekera's contemporary's were Rajah Perera, Upali Dassanayake and Dallas Martenstyn.

Chandrasekera prides in himself that he is perhaps the only Sri Lankan to be totally sponsored by a motor company when he signed with Suzuki of Japan in 1981. A qualified mechanic with the Institute of Engineers, Australia, the 54-year-old rider was employed at Rothmans for 17 years before retiring in 2000.

Chandrasekera has been holidaying in Sri Lanka for the past three months meeting up with old friends and relatives. He takes off to Australia next month. If the opinion expressed by Chandrasekera during his few months in Sri Lanka is what he is carrying back to Australia, more serious thought has to be given to the sport here. Motor sport in Sri Lanka is more or less dead today and needs to be revived to its former pristine glory. Otherwise, the sound of revving machines and the roar of cars will become, but a distant dream. 

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