Shammi Siraj Silva better known as “Shammi” was unanimously elected to serve another term as the President of Colombo Gymkhana Club(CH and FC) at their 69th Annual General Meeting held at their club premises last Friday.
Shammi, a prominent sportsman, who excelled in various sports, was a great product of Nalanda College, Colombo. He has represented college in athletics and cricket mainly. In cricket he became the cynosure of all eyes and had the best season in 1978/79 under the leader ship of Upul Gamage playing along with Sanath Kaluperuma and Keerthi Ranasinghe against some elite former Sri Lankan players like Ranjan Madugalle and Asantha de Mel. He joined the Colombo Cricket Club(CCC) in 1980 after captaining his school in the same year to represent the club in division one cricket from where he was instrumental in producing many champion sides. Apart from cricket he took part in squash as a player and later became the National coach for squash.
After representing the club in various sports events, he opted to get into administration and served in various capacities in the club starting as a committee member, vice chairman and sports committee chairman before becoming the chairman of the club respectively.
He was the brainchild of developing the club house and the surrounding structure including the higher elevated swimming pool, which apparently remains the one and only in the country so far.
He played a pivotal role in generating revenue for the club with the inauguration of the swimming pool complex in 2004 while introducing the life club membership, which has enabled to raise funds for the development of the club during his yeoman service rendered for over three decades.
He entered Sri Lanka Cricket as a controlling club member later served in various capacities before becoming the President of SLC. He is also the incumbent President of Western Province Cricket Association.
The CCC was formed in 1863 and CH and FC in 1892 while Queens Club was formed in 1899 where all three clubs were merged as Gymkhana Club in 1953.
Travis Fernando was the first Sri Lankan cricketer to represent CCC in 1971.
Lorensz Pereira was the first Sri Lankan player to represent CH and FC in rugby.
Carl Fernando along with Lorensz Pereira and Rizvi Fuard were some of the top stalwarts to play for CH and FC which was dominated by expatriates until 1973.
Late Major Gajendran was the first National player to play for the CH and FC club in hockey.
OFFICE BEARERS
Shammi Silva - Chairman
Russell Kerkoven - Vice Chairman
Major Tanesh Dias - Hony. Secretary
Kapila Ranasinghe - Treasurer
Ashan Welagedara - Asst. Secretary
Kithsiri de Silva - Asst. Treasurer
Daya Ratnayake - Pavilion Secretary
Sachitra Aluvihara - Bar Secretary
Duncan Devendra - Entertainment Secretary
Hiran Doranegama - Restaurant Secretary
Dhammika Manchanayake - Ground Secretary
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Asela Rekawa, Ruthven de Livera
Kalinga Indatissa Shiran Anthony
Nalin Aponso
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