Chairman of Seylan Bank Narangoda was an outstanding cricketer

Premasara Epasinghe

The new Chairman of Seylan Bank, Eastman Narangoda was an outstanding schoolboy, university and club cricketer in mid 1960s - 1970s.

When he was representing Nalanda College, my 'alma mater', I remember him as 'Mr. Reliable'. He was popularly known as a 'Saviour' of Nalanda in many school matches spanning from 1965-1967.

After retiring from a highly distinguished career as the General Manager and Chief Executive of the National Savings Bank, today, he is called upon to guide and direct the 'Bank with a Heart'.

In 1967, if my memory served me right, Royal opening bowlers Chitty and Thalayasingham were firing all cylinders and Nalanda were reeling at 29 for 7 at Reid Avenue.

Eastman Narangoda, wearing a maroon and silver cap, walked in and joined his skipper Anura de Silva.

Narangoda, who always put school before self during his school days too, played a sheet anchor role first, allowing Anura to be at the bowlers end. He began the 'Rescue Act'.

Narangoda faced Chitty and Thalayasingham with confidence, kept his nose on the pitch and saved Nalanda by scoring 67 valuable runs. His senior partner Anura de Silva played a very responsible innings and scored a half a century.

Narangoda laid the foundation for a Nalanda victory on the second day, against Royal after 21 years, at Reid Avenue.

Today, Narangoda has to play a captain's innings in re-structuring the fortunes of Seylan Bank. He possesses a well-knit side to achieve this goal.

As a former Nalanda and University opener cum wicket-keeper and as a former Banker at Bank of Ceylon and Sampath Bank, I wish Eastman and his team good luck.

Eastman Narangoda, who balanced his studies and sports together is an Economics Special Graduate, of the University of Peradeniya, specialising in banking and currency.

He was a diploma holder in Advanced Bank Management in Stockholm, Sweden. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Management Specialist in United Kingdom, and Sri Lanka Institute of Training and Development. Further, he attended to Professional Corporate Management and Work programmes in Japan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Philippines and Sweden. Eastman Narangoda is also the Past President of the Association of Professional Bankers of Sri Lanka. As a top official, he held several high positions in the field of banking.

Further, he served as a Commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Failed Financial Companies. To put it in a nut-shell - Eastman Narangoda is an ornament in the field of banking.