A. M. Sriya versatile sportswoman

by Premasara Epasinghe

Ladies lead families, what is meant by that is the women-folk of the house, maintain the family and look after domestic well-being. But, here is a lady, who leads household in that terms too, but, providing leadership in another unexpected field as well. The field in question is SPORTS.

She is a head of a family sports people and several generations of those for that matter.

What is strange is that sports genes seems to be in the family as everybody is a sport person.

ADIKARI MUDIYANSELAGE SRIYA, popularly known as A. M. SRIYA, represented Sri Lanka in Athletics, Volleyball. She was an outstanding Netball and Basket Ball player and a woman cyclist. Further, she is the first woman Gymnast and Gymnastic coach in Sri Lanka. A unique record indeed.

A. M. Sriya was born on 25th April 1946. Her parents were A. M. Albert, a businessman in Kotte. Agnes Peiris was her mother. Sriya's two sisters - A. M. Nanda and A. M. Jayanthi.

She joined St. Thomas College, Kotte, in 1951. From her childhood she took a liking to sports. Sriya is ever grateful to her teacher Mrs. Grace Gajasinghe, Physical Training Instructor of the school.

"I am ever grateful to Mrs. Gajasinghe, she motivated me, encouraged me and I took part in Track events and was the school champion athlete for many years."

She joined the Municipality of Colombo, in 1967 as a Sports Instructress served them till 1990.

It was at the Colombo Municipality that she blossomed as an outstanding sportswoman.

She excelled as a Netball player and captained the Municipality Volleyball Team. While playing volleyball, she took part in Basketball too.

"I used to practise at the Bambalapitiya Depot Police Courts. One day, when I was playing Basketball, a police athlete Warnakulasuriya, advised me to take upto athletics. I took a liking to High Jump. That great sports promoter, Municipal Commissioner late B. A. Jayasinghe, who was a keen on Netball, helped me in a big way. He instructed officials to dig a High Jump pit for me, and while playing Netball for the Municipality. I had regular High Jump practices. I am really thankful to Jayasinghe, in encouraging me in Netball as well as Athletics," stated Sriya.

High Jump record-holder

Sriya's hour of glory dawned in the year 1969 at Baticaloa. She sailed over 5 feet 1" and broke the existing High Jump Record of Noble Kiel (5 1/2 feet).

This I consider as the most memorable event in my sports career" said Sriya. Sriya, while working at the Municipality of Colombo, represented Government Services, Athletic meet on 20th July 1967, and was placed first in the High Jump event clearing 4 feet 9 inches, thus creating a New meet Record.

On 22nd and 23rd March 1968, in the Third women open Ceylon Track and field club meet (CT and FC), she sailed over 4 feet 9 inches and established a new meet record.

In the Central Province Athletic Association meet held on 20th October 1968, at University of Peradeniya Grounds, she came first clearing 4 feet 11 inches and won the award for the field event for women.

A notable feature was that she improved year by year till she created the new Sri Lanka Record. Not only in Sri Lanka, she excelled in the foreign soil too. In 1968, at Mysore, India, she won a Gold by sailing over 4 feet 11 inches. In Thailand, in 1969, she was placed 2nd by clearing 4 feet 8 3/4 inches.

Outstanding Volley-Ball player

Sriya excelled as a volley-ball player representing Sri Lanka in 1969. Her sister A. M. Nanda too played with her. Sri Lanka women volleyball team was captained by that versatile player Sita Kulatunga, C. Liyanage, Sita's sister Sunethra Kulatunga, Lalitha Karunaratne, Lucky Dharmasena, Irangani Kumarasighe and Padmini represented Sri Lanka.

First woman gymnast cum coach

Sriya was the first woman gymnast and coach. She was coached by James Perera who was her life long partner. They tied the Nuptial Knot on 13th November 1970. James Perera, a distinguished Benedictine, can be considered as the father of Gymnastic in Sri Lanka in the modern era.

Gymnastic in the king of sports, as it helps all other sports disciplines in general and enhance the physical fitness and concentrate power of all sportsmen and sportswomen. Both James and Sriya were employed at Colombo Municipality as sport Instructor and Instructress. In short, James was the wind behind Sriya's wings.

The most outstanding achievement of Sriya as a Gymnastic coach was that she and Erika Zuchold - a German Olympic Gymnast were together in training.

According to a German Journal it stated "Sriya Perera a Sri Lankan Gymnast found a good instructor and friend Erika Zuchold".

Cyclist

Four decades ago, she excelled as a cyclist.

On 21st November 1965, she took part in the Wattala Janatha Cycle Race and was placed second to Aloma De Silva.

"I met with a minor accident when I was riding in this race. But, I never gave up. I got back to the track and rode and won the second place. Aloma was one of the best women cyclists at that time stated Sriya.

Goes to the third generation

The happy family James and Sriya are blessed with two daughters. Krishanthi Perera and Vyomi Perera. Krishanthi was an outstanding Net-ball player and a fine Athlete and a Basketball player. She is married to Aruna Karunaratne an old Royalist.

Their son, Thilina Karunaratne is a promising athlete at Royal College and like the "Grandma". He is a High Jumper and a champion Athlete. Oshadi Karunaratne, Krishanthi's daughter, is an CIS and she is an Athlete and a Bastkeball player.

Their other daughter Vyomi Perera, was a fine Gymnast and a Table Tennis player. Gihan Kaushal Jayasinghe, a Petriete, is a fine Badminton Player, Vyomi's husband is Jude Jayasinghe a Josephine.

At the conclusion of my interview with Sriya I asked to give some advice to the future sportswomen.

"Respect your elders, teachers, coaches, you must be disciplined, committed and always follow the golden rule fair play and Justice", stated Sriya.

In chivalry, we say, ladies first, for instance, whatever Sriya does or whereever she goes, in the womens sports field she is an outstanding Athlete, a rare woman sports personality.

Today (25.4.2005) she is celebrating her 59th Birthday.