Past Hockey players have come forward with the collaboration of the Old Boys Union and the co-operation of the principal M.Y.P.P. Bandara to form a Past Hockey Players Association and the inaugural meeting was held at the School on the September 19.
Hockey at one time was a popular sport at Isipathana College and the first schoolboy to represent Sri-Lanka was B.M.R.Preena (Mervyn) and his brother known as Otto who was also a National player took up coaching the youngsters from grassroot level at Isipathana in 1976 and also D.S.Senanayake College and produced many players to represent the country. Shiran Massaron taking the reins from Otto Preena was a tower of strength at Isipathana hockey who took up the challenge in mid eighties and brought the College under 17 team to emerge champs in the Colombo District in 1987 and produced more players to the National team. Some of them are now in the high ranking positions in the Colombo Hockey Association, Mercantile Hockey Association, Selectors, Coaches, and an International Umpire.
Isipathanians who represented the country in hockey and excelled in the field of cricket and played in the Division 1 tournament are A.J. Rumy, A.H.M. Fowzie, S.H.M. Hallaj, S.H.M. Kuthubdee, S.H.U. Karnain who turned out to be a double international.
Ananda Wimalaratne who was a famous hockey player made his debut for Colts and shifted to play for CH & FC along with Shiran Massaron were appointed as Patrons to get the past players involved to work as a team for the benefit of the younger generation from the grassroot level and provide them with the necessary assistance for their educational matters. They will work with the sole ambition of producing National level hockey players.
The principal M.Y.P.P. Bandara addressing the gathering thanked all those who attended the meeting and said, since you had a love for the game, you are here today spending your precious time and my support will always be there for the game of hockey.
The Education Ministry has to take necessary steps to appoint capable persons in Colombo and outstation schools if this game has to be promoted.
