Former tennis star donates his trophies to schools

F C B Marapane, a retired public servant and a well-known religious and social worker of Menikhinna, was a leading tennis player in the country during the 1950 and 1960 decades. His tennis career spanned over a period of 30 years (1947 to 1977).

He joined the prestigious Kandy Garden Club, a premier and one of the oldest clubs, founded in 1887 during the hey day of the British Raj, in 1952, and continues to be a member. His achievements in tennis were great, and he was one of the few outstation players to have been seeded by the Sri Lanka Tennis Association.

During his long tennis career he participated in most of the open tennis tournaments conducted by the SLTA for ranking purposes, and won trophies in Colombo, Galle, Ratnapura, Badulla, Kurunegala etc. He won the Men’s (Club) Open Singles for seven consecutive years at the Kandy Garden Club, where he acquired the most number of trophies including two big Challenge Cups for Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles.

He also regularly played for his Club in the All Island Inter-Club Tennis Tournaments conducted by the SLTA every year.

When he finally stopped playing, he had a whole cabinet full of cups. A few months ago, he decided to give them all away. Accordingly, he donated to his Club, the two large Challenge Cups and the rest - around 60 to four schools in the area where he resides, following discussions with the respective Principals.

The Walala A Ratnayake Central College, Naranpanawa Wimalaratna Kumaragama Maha Vidyalaya, Menikhinna Maha Vidyalaya and the Dambarawa Dharmaloka Maha Vidyalaya were the schools that benefitted. The giving away was done without any fanfare or ceremony. Each school received 15 cups. The Kandy Garden Club made Marapane a Life Member a few years ago. He is also its Trustee.

During his youth, he had played club cricket and football and had once captained a football club.

Although in his 80s, he continues to take an interest in important events of his Club, like attending its Annual General Meetings.

Among his contemporaries there had been Professors D E Hettiarachchi, M B Ariyapala, H A Passe, T Varagunam, Chandra Wijenaike, founder of the Central Finance Company and a host of others whom he says were gentlemen to their finger tips.