Epa given the best appointment

NEW APPOINTMENT: As a former school cricketer, who represented Nalanda College from 1957-1960 captaining in the year 1960 I was delighted to hear about the appointment of my team mate Premasara Epasinghe, as one of the members of the recently appointed Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Epasinghe was a fine opening bat cum wicket-keeper who excelled as a school cricketer. I still remember in later years ‘Epa’ shone as University and a club cricketer representing Saracens in the Division one, captained by our beloved coach late Gerry Goonaratne.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University (Sinhala, English, History) and specializing Education, he joined his ‘Alma Mater’ Nalanda College in the mid 1960s as a Graduate Teacher.

He took over the cricket administration as Prefect of Games, Master-in-Charge of cricket and coach at Nalanda and produced dozens of Sri Lanka Cricketers. He ushered the “Golden Era” of cricket from 1968, 1970 at Nalanda.

During this period Epasinghe was a member of the Selection Committee ‘Sri Lanka School and a selector of the 1969 under 20 School cricket Team which toured India, under the captaincy of Mitra Wettimuny.

If my memory serves right. I think Bandula Warnapura and Duleep Mendis and Ajith de Silva were too in this side. Epasinghe, a man of honesty and integrity was not only an Internationally reputed commentator who was responsible for making cricket to the grass roots level, but also a highly respected administrator who served the Government Banks and Mercantile Establishments and Ministries for more than three decades.

Presently he serves as an advisor and a consultant at the Ministry of Eduction and attended the Asia Pacific Education Conference as the Sri Lanka delegate. Last year accompanying the Minister of Education held in Brisbane, Australia.

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (MP)