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by Geoff Wijesinghe

It is a crying shame of what has happened to the former home of the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) grounds, which was known as Victoria Park opposite St. Bridget's Convent at Cinnamon Gardens.

This was a well-maintained ground with a pavilion identical to those found in the old days in the British counties. In fact, there were many pavilions in this country, which were quite environmentally friendly and spacious. The Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) pavilion, despite a few alterations, remains untouched. So is the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) pavilion, with open verandahs and an air of informality, which augurs well for fellowship amongst its members.

I remember as a 10-year-old cycling to these clubs, particularly the SSC where, while the majority watched cricket, the others played poker and other games of cards while having a quiet drink, enjoying their weekends with a bonhomie, which is sadly lacking today.

In those days, the talk among members was of cricket and cricketers. Today, it is more of the serious stuff such as corporate affairs. Lusty voices, most of them flat and raucous, rendered songs such as "Old Danny Boy," "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," and other songs gradually moving upscale to the more local and enjoyable "Kussi Amma Sera," "Nona, Mage Nurse Nona" etc.

At the end of the day, members left in fine mood and even bar waiters such as the huge, dark, mustachioed Sara of the SSC, who we all offered drinks to, ducked under the tables laid out in the garden and guzzled a couple of shots of arrack, looking furtively to his left and right in order to ensure that he was not seen by any strict officials.

At the age of 21, when I played one year for the SSC in the Premier Division, Colonel F.C. de Saram, who was the captain, one of whose hobbies was cooking, used to stride into the kitchen at the SSC and prepare various dishes which were reminiscent of his days in London, when he was playing for Oxford.

One evening, he decided to cook an underdone sirloin steak. He took great pains to soften the beef and then added all sorts of sauces and topped it up with a liberal dose of sherry.

After his culinary efforts were over, he collared me as the youngest of the team to taste his epicurean "feat". Well, his being my captain, I had no alternative but to say it was delicious, although it tasted more of blood than anything else. Anyway, over several beers and several slices of the sirloin steak. We all went home in jolly good "weather".

But, later that night, I got the gripe of my life. My aunt being in hospital, I had only a young lad who served as my man Jeeves in that house at Retreat Road, Bambalapitiya that runs alongside the Holy Family Convent. It was a question of groaning and moaning till morning, when the pain eased considerably after several visits to the toilet.

I am sure that those giggles, which came from the girls up in front of my house, were meant for me, for in reflection, it was a jolly good laugh. There's no pleasure without pain is the hackneyed saying. And how true it proved.

But, never ever did I brave tasting FC's beef preparations again.

The SSC Grounds, which was known as Victoria Park, was a beautiful ground with shady trees surrounding it. The wicket was true and fast. And D.S. Jayasundera, reputed to be the country's fastest bowler ever, had the SSC as his home grounds.

The international matches alternated between the SSC and the Oval (Tamil Union Grounds), and possibly even the NCC.

The schools big matches too, alternated between these grounds and tents were built all round with the flags of the schools and the houses fluttering in the gentle breeze.

Stalwarts such as F.C. de Saram, the famous Sargo Jayawickrema, who also captained Ceylon, had wrists of steel and his straight and on drives rocketed along the turf as would that of C.I. Gunasekera. C.I. was a leg spinner and an innovative, hard-hitting batsman who represented the country and played in the company of international stars such as Keith Miller, Lindsay Hasset, Keith Carmody and others.

In a match at the Oval in 1945, an Australian Services SI captained by Lindsay Hasset, played Ceylon. Ben Navaratne, our wicket keeper never liked to stand up to pace bowlers. But, he really met his match, when Keith Miller pounced one over his head and landed full on the scoreboard opposite.

In another incident in that match, Miller bowled a fairly tame bouncer at our opening batsman Robert Fernando, a short midget of a man compared to the Australian.

The ball hit Robert on his shoulder and Miller was the first to run up to him and rub it down. While this gesture moved the crowd, we also had a hearty laugh, for there was no injury to person.

Hasset, who succeeded Don Bradman as captain scored 111 in that match.

Returning to the Victoria Park, the quaint old pavilion and the buildings behind were converted into the School of Fine Arts and if I remember right, there were more protest strikes in that school than art.

Then, B.A. Jayasinghe, short, dark, stocky and a sports crazy character spent a lot of time; energy and money in resuscitating the SSC ground and style it the Municipal Ground, opposite the Viharamah Devi Park. It was single storey, very open pavilion, where he spent most of his time and energy in promoting cricket.

He was also responsible for producing one of the best soccer teams in the country, extending the playground system so that many a street urchin would have a decent place to play and build his identity. Names that come to mind over the years are P.D. Sirisena, Hashim Deen, the best goalkeeper in Asia, Piyadasa Perera, Bernard Shaw and several others.

There was also a hockey team, which did quite well. There was also an annual sports meet and a Christmas social. All this has now gone to ruin due to official apathy.

First the Municipal Sports Club and later the Nomads, of which I believe, the captain was D.H. de Silva who later became Charity Commissioner. His brothers too, were good cricketers and D.S. de Silva for several years was a permanent fixture as a leg spinner in the Ceylon side.

A wrist spinner of note, he was considered one of the best in the world at the time. He was also a good batsman.

But, alas, although this country once produced some of the best leg spinners ever produced in the world such as M.O. Gooneratne who took ten wickets and scored a century in a Royal-Thomian, Gamini Goonasena, who captained Cambridge took ten wickets and scored a doubled century in Oxford-Cambridge, had not been fully made use of.

So is Stanley Jayasinghe who captained Nalanda and who later played for the SSC and the NCC before he took up an offer as professional at the British county Leicestershire until he returned to the country. He managed one tour I think to New Zealand and now writes a column to a national newspaper.

B.A. Jayasinghe who was Municipal Commissioner for several year died of a heart attack when he was only 52 years of age. And with that, the Municipal Club and the Nomads Sports Club, who became Ceylon champions, died a natural death.

Today, I am told the cultural authorities, through some bureaucratic inebriation, used its clout to take over the Victoria Park. I am told; it is today, a virtual jungle. This prime, beautiful property, which was one of the pristine glories of this country, is today an eye sore due to man's inhumanity to nature.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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