Member of Italian Olympic Committee and a National advisor for Cricket:

Rare achievement by Kelum Perera

Chinthana Wasala

Italy is a country which has produced thousands of Olympians over the years and highly involved with Sports. With over 9500 sports clubs actively involving in various kinds of sports with over 11 million sportsmen and women, Italy is a country where the best kinds of talents are needed to get to the top level. The Italian National Olympic Committee, founded in 1914, is responsible for the development and management of all sports activities in Italy.

Entering the management of such an organization is not possible for everyone. And to see a Sri Lankan actively involved in management of an organization of that nature is truly a rare feat.

Kelum Perera, a handsome young man of 25 years is the youngest ever to achieve that feat.

Kelum, born in Florence, Italy to Sri Lankan parents, Kumaradasa and Ashoka Perera, has always been an outstanding person in different fields. He started off as a soccerite, Kelum was one of the best in his province at the age of 13. But his father who migrated to Italy in 1978, had a great love with cricket, playing for Ananda College, Lake House and in the Nationalized Services tournaments back in Sri Lanka, wanted him to become a cricketer.

In a country in which Cricket is picking up in popularity, Kelum decided to get on with it.

With Kumar’s guidance, Kelum showed excellent performances in a very short period of time. Kelum found a place in under-15 Italian National cricket team and proving his excellence, Kelum became the captain soon.

He had the opportunity to get some tips in bowling and batting from the present Sri Lanka National fast bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake and J.C.

Gamage who were present in Italy at that time. With sharpened skills, the right hand batsman and fast bowler was able to secure his place in under-18 Italian National team also being the skipper at the age of 15.

Kelum played for the Chesena CC and Bolonja CC in Italy. His father also played for the Chesena CC when Kelum was very young and this was the first occasion in Italian history where a father-son combination was seen in a team.

Kelum gathered lots of experience playing for some clubs in England and the famous Crusaders CC in Australia.

While he was playing, he followed level I,II and III coaching courses in England and got through at the age of 22.

Then he was called in for the Italian Cricket Federation to act as a development officer. He showed his excellence in playing, administrating and coaching cricket and helping development of cricket thereafter.

He was named Young coach of the year - 2009 at the ICC Europe - Sky Sports inaugural Coaches Association Awards for his excellence.

Last month, Kelum was offered a position in the Italian Olympic Committee as a committee member, and a National advisor for Cricket, and this is the first time a cricketer and a foreigner is holding a post in IOC.

Kelum, who is fluent in English, Italian and Sinhalese, has brought Sri Lanka great honour while he promises to keep going. He will hold his position in IOC for the next four years and will be working towards development of Cricket in Italy.