Bens get a new look ground

by Elmo Rodrigopulle

The St. Benedict's College sports ground is to get a new look. Work has already started and soon the Benedictine sportsmen would have a ground where they can indulge in their activities without hindrance.

The full redeveloping of the ground is going to cost around 25 million rupees and take about a year to complete.

The man in charge of this gigantic undertaking is former Bens cricketer and hockey player and now an international hockey referee Ravi Irugalbandara.

The ground was marsh, till it was commissioned and made a playground sometime during the late forties. A lot of work went into getting it into playing condition and over the years the Bens sportsmen continued to excel on their home turf.

But of late the ground began to sink and a slight shower was enough to flood it and make playing any game impossible. In addition the draining system too began to collapse and the Bens had to honour their fixtures by playing games away.

The college authorities reported the collapse of the draining system to the authorities that matter and sought relief. Other than for some patch work nothing concrete was done. At times when it pours the ground resembled a mini lake. The 'Daily News' published pictures of the havoc that the rain caused and called on those who matter to have sympathy on their sportsmen and come to their rescue. But to no avail.

Finally a band of old boys led by Irugalbandara took it on themselves to see to the renovation of the ground and very soon it would have a modern draining system, new grass and a turf wicket which all Old Bens and present Bens sportsmen would be proud of. The Bens when they commissioned the ground used to play their cricket on matting.

It was in 1958 that the Bens switched to playing on turf wickets, thanks to the amiable Director of that time Rev. Bro Alban Patrick who not only gave turf wickets to the sportsmen, he also built a pavilion that is one of the best in the country.

Keneth Dabrera, the school's cheer leader of the late fifties and sixties proposed that the pavilion be named the Rev. Bro. Alban pavilion which was seconded by former Army General Cecil Waidyaratne who was one of the finest fast bowlers in the schools of that time at the OBU meeting a few years back. He was vice captain of the school in 1958 But sadly the re-naming has yet to materialise.

Dinesh Madawela, the new President of the Old Bens Sports Club is determined to see it become a reality. We hope he succeeds.