Naveen de Silva is a cricketer and a badminton exponent produced by Ananda College. A promising left hand batsman and left arm spinner, he displayed impressive skill with some fine performances while representing Ananda and Dubai with distinction.
Incidentally Naveen is the only child of former Ananda football captain Chintaka de Silva who became famous as a rugby fullback when he played for Air Force, club CH and FC and Sri Lanka and twin brother of Janaka de Silva.
Naveen dreams of representing Sri Lanka in cricket but wants to be accepted as what he calls “a good human being”.
“I chose sport because that's what makes me happy. I want my country and parents to be proud of me,” he said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: Describe yourself in one word?
Energetic
Q: Any words or phrases you overuse?
Absolutely essential
Q: What is your most marked characteristic?
Truth! It is the key to everything else and I just love the truth. The devil is a liar and father of all lies and liars. Knowing, believing, acting and operating in truth, runs counter to all that the devil does. I have always stood for truth whenever I have found it, usually against nearly everyone. This is a characteristic of prophets which is not an easy path or role to play. One filled with much trouble and adversity, but one that is ultimately greatly blessed
Q: If you could edit your past, what would you change?
Some experiences were good, some were embarrassing, some were silly and some were a little sad. But all these are my memories. And I don't wanna change any of these
Q: What is the most important thing in your life?
My parents
Q: Who has influenced you the most?
My father
Q: Are you fashionable?
Yes of course!
Q: If you had access to a time machine what would you change?
I would eliminate violence from our world
Q: What motivates you in your life?
What happens on the field stays on the field. It is a famous quote in the cricketing circles worldwide. This is said in the context of dealing with fights, sledging and aggression on the field. These must never be carried off the field. Compartmentalizing professional and personal aspects of life is very important and cricket teaches you just that. Be it the experts of the game or a young aspiring cricketer, anyone and everyone would agree to the fact that cricket can be a wonderful teacher in itself.
Q: If you could choose any career right now, what would it be?
To represent my country from the field of cricket
Q: What forms of music do you listen to?
Classical and Pop
Q: What’s the best thing you would like to hear from someone?
Saying thank you for being a nice human being
Q. What made you choose sports?
I chose sport because that's what makes me happy and also that is one of my hobbies. It made me choose sport because I want my country and parents to be proud of me
Q. Thus far what was your most unforgettable sporting incident?
There are few, winning the Ananda versus Nalanda cricket encounter, representing the CDB (bank team) and playing for Old Anandians and winning the championship in the United Arab Emirates
Q. What's your best school sporting achievement?
I took four wickets for 11 runs in my debut match for Ananda against St. Mary’s College, Chilaw
Q: What is your idea of happiness?
Freedom of expression
Q: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Narrow minded people and the lack of gratitude among people. You know the people who always find a reason to complain, get angry or make ungenerous assumptions about others
Q: What has been your biggest disappointment?
Wish I could have continued playing cricket while doing my higher studies at the same time. Clubs were not ready to excuse me for my busy schedule in the university