Mercantile Table Tennis Association golden jubilee-memoirs

Eric Motha

It is my privilege as a founder member to chronicle the saga of the Mercantile TT Association on completion of 50 golden years in the realm of sports.

Robin L. Rutnam (Richard Peiris & Co. Ltd) was honoured as the founder President with the duo from Shell Company, Basil Dabare and Lionel Ponniah being elected Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

The other members who comprised the trail blazing Council were: N.M. Udeshi (Siedles Cineradio ) M. Balaji (Acme Trading Co.), C. Paramananthan (Turquand Young), R.K. Singham (A. I. Macan Markar), T. Falaldeen (Bank of Ceylon), Eric Motha (ICI), A. Rasaiah (Shell), N.M. Lakdawala (Ford Rhodes Thornton), K.C. Chandraraj (Turquand Young), R. Bultjens, Paul Thambinayagam (Mercantile Bank) and Trevor Dabrera (E. John Thompson White). A.A. Perera (CWE) was a prime mover in the formation of the MTTA and with the above unfurled a new chapter in the annals of mercantile sports.

The MTTA was the controlling body for the active promotion of table tennis in the mercantile and banking sectors.

The annual inter-firm tournaments (League and K/O) attracted record entries with players vying for honours in a spirit of true sportsmanship and healthy camaraderie.

The finale to the year’s calendar of events was the Mercantile & Open TT Championships akin in stature to the ‘Nationals’ conducted by the Table Tennis Association of Ceylon, the controlling body for the sport islandwide.

It was very appropriate that the tournaments at the commencement were sponsored by Shell Company of Ceylon and thereafter the mantle was carried on by Lever Brothers (Ceylon) Ltd. and Ceylon Cold Stores Ltd. The tradition has been continued with the following firms having been sponsors in the years that followed.

Akbar Bros, Ceylon Agents & Industries, Pure Beverages, Carsons, Vasa Opticians. The golden jubilee open championships were sponsored by Ceylinco Grameen Automobiles (Pvt) Ltd. and the Open Ranking Tournament was the beneficiary of a sponsorship package offered by Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.

M. Balaji, who played a pivotal role in the inauguration of the Table Tennis Association of Ceylon in the 1940’s succeeded Robin Rutnam as the President with Rishi (RK) Singham (Secretary) and Trevor Dabrera (Treasurer).

In addition to the trio we had the services of Vice President C. Paramananthan and active Council members who continued to consolidate the groundwork in place.

In 1969, the MTTA, during the tenure of Norshir Lakdawala as President, created history in organizing the inaugural Dinner Dance aptly titled “Bouncing Ball” at Ceylinco House, Colombo.

The Dance served as a fitting finale to the tournaments conducted during the year. The other officials who formed the inaugural committee were Wijesiri Daluwatte (Levers) - (Secretary) Eric Motha (Assistant Secretary) Gerard Jayatileke (Ceylon Agents & Industries) - (Treasurer), N.E. Thangarajah (Lake House) and Robert Joseph (Colombo Commercial Co.).

The untimely demise of Mr. Balaji in the early 70’s in Madras whilst being Chef-De-Mission of the Mercantile team for the Binny’s TT Championships cast a pall over the Table Tennis world.

The invaluable contribution he made to the game at Mercantile and more importantly at the National level since the 40’s is eloquent testimony to his dedication.

Mr. Balaji was succeeded by yet another reputed personality Charlie Daniel (Daniel & Co.) who endeavoured to maintain the traditions set by his predecessors ably aided by Secretary W. Daluwatte.

It was after Daniel’s brief stint that we witnessed the entry of Chandrakant Mohanlal Vasa in early 70’s as the unanimous choice for the post of President.

It was my privilege to be closely associated with Vasa after the demise of energetic Secretary Wijesiri Daluwatte in 1976. Chandrakant Vasa imbued with a charisma all his own and coupled with a clear vision and unbridled generosity focused on leading the MTTA to levels not witnessed hitherto.

The ‘Bouncing Ball’ was revived under the chairmanship of versatile Rodney St. John (Cold Stores) and there was evidently a remarkable increase in membership and participation in the tournaments conducted during the year.

It must go on record that Rodney played a significant role in reviving the Dance which was eagerly looked forward to. It was sad to hear of Rodney’s demise in Melbourne where he was domiciled.

Chandrakant Vasa had the co-operation of a team of dedicated officials in Chrys Gunaratne & Leonard Perera (Lake House)Rodney St. John, Lucian Alles, Benito Soris (Cold Stores) Rasakantha Rasiah (Mercantile Credit), Annesley Gomez, (Steuarts Group), Sunimal Salgadoe (Colombo Agencies), Sarath Gunaratne (Ceylon Tobacco), Darlon Pereira (Victory Silk Stores),

D.M. Munasinghe (Browns), S. Botejue (Rowlands) and N. David (Grindlays Bank) amongst others who rallied to maintain the prestige of the MTTA. The Association was fortunate in having the services of Ajith Gamage (Ceylon Tobacco), Austin Fernando (Akbar Bros), P. Udayaratne (Pure Beverages), Jimmy Miranda (Mackwoods) and A.K. Issadeen (Walkers) functioning as Secretaries whilst the finances were entrusted to Francis Legrand (Hayleys), Leonard Perera (Lake House) and M. Ruzaik Jabitr (Chemanex) during these years.

The financial status of the Association was greatly enhanced during Vasa’s tenure due in appreciable measure to his own generosity and commitment. In retrospect it could be truly stated that Vasa ushered in the golden era for the MTTA spread over a decade.

The Association was shocked by his sudden demise in Bombay in 2003; the legacy Chandrakant Vasa left behind will remain as a perennial tribute to this leader par excellence.

It was in 1983 that history was created when the Hon. Minister of Sports appointed Chandrakant Vasa (President), Eric Motha (Secretary) and Lucian Alles (Treasurer) to the newly constituted Board of Control for Table Tennis in Sri Lanka.

It was a tribute to the stature of the MTTA and its unenviable record in promoting the game of ping pong amongst the employees of nearly fifty Mercantile firms and Commercial Banks in the country.

The MTTA conducts the following Invitation Championships in tribute to the memory of three individuals whose contribution to Table Tennis was phenomenal: Chandrakant Vasa, Chrys Gunaratne and Ashok Melvani.

Since the inception, the Association has been the recipient of the goodwill and generosity extended by the following Patrons/Vice Patrons: N.M. Udeshi, T.C.A. De Soysa, S. Viswanathan, Dr. I.A. Ismail, Inayet Akberally, Ana Punchihewa, S. Nagendra, L.C.D (Cubby) Wijetunge, Chandrakant Vasa and in recent years Rasakantha Rasiah & Sunimal Salgadoe.

Eric Motha succeeded Vasa as President in mid 80’s and endeavoured to maintain the outstanding position of the MTTA with the aid of his team of officials including Ajith Gamage (Secretary) and M. Ruzaik Jabir (Treasurer).

The mantle of Presidency was handed over to stalwart Gerard Jayatileke in 1991 and the programme of events was continued with great efficiency under the watchful guidance of Vasa who was fittingly honoured as the Patron.

In 2001 the MTTA witnessed the entry of M. Ruzaik Jabir as the next President with Tony Antonius (Secretary) and Hemantha Karunatileke (Treasurer). Jabir continued to hold office and was succeeded by Sarath Gunaratne with S.R. Gunawardene and T. Ramkumar in the slot as Secretaries and Janaka Mendis (Treasurer).

It is gratifying to record that the current President and successor to Gunaratne is Ajith Gamage a former live wire. In the continuation of an MTTA tradition Ajith is the present Secretary of the Board of Control for TT with veteran Rajive Wijetunge (Ceylinco Group) as President.

It is relevant to record that Sarath Gunaratne & Lalith Priyantha were also past Presidents of the Board of Control for TT in Sri Lanka.

The MTTA during the past half century had the distinction of producing several National Champions and Ranked players in the calibre of Norshir Lakdawala, Chrys Gunaratne, N.M. Udeshi, Charlie Daniel, Pesi Pestonjee, K. Arichandran, R.K. Singham, Paul Thambinayagam, K.C. Chandraraj, A.Thevendran, Annesley Gomez, Suresh Melvani, Ashok Melvani, Lalith Priyantha, Sarath Gunaratne, Rasakantha Rasiah, Angelo Santiago, George Van Hoff, Ramesh Dharamdas, Shabbar and Shabbir Hussain, W.A. Buddhasiri, I. Jayasiri, Nihal Gunaratne.

In the ladies sector, we had evergreen Belle Weerakoon, Cuckoo Fonseka, Nandini Daniel, Carol Rudolph, Namal Gunasekera, Tamara Doering, Swarna Peiris, Deepika Rodrigo, Kalpani Herath, Saranga de Silva, Upeka Kotinkaduwa, Sachie Tennekoon.

In an article of this magnitude it is possible that some names may have been inadvertently omitted and I tender my apologies.

In summing up it has always been a pleasure and privilege to maintain a close liaison with the hierarchy of the MTTA though from afar.

The ex officials and players now domiciled abroad join me in sending this message of felicitations to the President and office-bearers wishing them success in their endeavours with the Diamond Jubilee looming on the horizon.

Ad Multos Annos!