Galle Cricket Club celebrates 142 years | Sunday Observer

Galle Cricket Club celebrates 142 years

10 February, 2019

Air Vice Marshal Ravi Arunthavanathan the former Galle CC president was the chief guest at its 142nd Anniversary held at club premises recently.

Retired Air Vice Marshal Arunthavanathan was a keen cricket promoter who excelled in the game at Richmond College and Southern Combined schools in the 1960-70 era and later for the Air Force cricket team. After he retired from cricket he gave his services to cricket administration. As a Air Force senior officer he maintained discipline and was no stranger to Sri Lanka Cricket.

He was the Tournament Director of the first ever ICC under-19 Youth World Cup tournament in 2000 where 16 countries participated and won by India while Sri Lanka captained by Malintha Gajanayake ended runner-up at the SSC ground.

Two Air Force officers, Air Vice Marshall Athunthavanathan and Air Commodore Sriyan Samararatna who was the tournament secretary handled this inaugural tournament well to the satisfaction of the ICC.

Arunthavanathan took over the Galle CC president’s post from Ana Punchihewa who was then incumbent president of SLC and later handed over the Galle CC top post to Jayantha Dharmadasa who was then Chairman of the cricket committee.

After the Tsunami disaster in 2004, Arunthavanathan who was the Patron of the Galle CC together with Jayantha Dharmadasa got it back to what it is today through a massive reconstruction project. Arunthavananthan is also an active member of the Richmond College Old Boys Colombo branch as well as Richmond Cricket Wing to promote sports at the school.

Incumbent Galle CC president Kumara Samarasinghe the Marketing Director of Singer Sri Lanka and the Organizing Committee deserve to be complemented for the grand show to mark the Galle CC’s 142nd anniversary.

 

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