Reunion of former planters of the Maskeliya/Upcot district who call themselves ‘The Mascots”
View(s):“The Mascots”, a group of ex planters of the Maskeliya and Upcot District and others who were in the district and who were members of the Maskeliya Club, are having another reunion this month.
Following the numerous requests from members, the General Committee has arranged a visit on 22-23 February 2014 to “The Mascots” former home – the plantation district of Maskeliya/Upcot at the foot of Adam’s Peak, the organisers said.An elaborate itinerary has been drawn up which includes a cricket match against the “Future Mascots” (Managers currently serving on estates in the district) and a gala dinner at the Maskeliya Club on February 22 where “The Mascots” will be hosting the current Managers of estates in the district and their wives. As the Darrawella Club too played a major part in the lives of “The Mascots”, a visit to this club too has been scheduled for February 23.
The origins of this group go back to 2002 when three ex planters and stalwarts of the district – Harin de Costa, Randy Mcleod and Devaka Wickramasuriya – decided to have a re-union of all their colleagues who were in the district between the years 1974 and 1985. This re-union resulted in the Association of Ex Planters of Maskeliya being formed and regular re-unions held thereafter. There was another group of those who had been in the Maskeliya and Upcot District prior to 1984 and, due to there being no rationale in having two groups for the same purpose, both groups merged in 2013 and were re-named “The Mascots”.
The initial re-union of “The Mascots” was held on November 2, 2013 at the 80 Club, Colombo and was well attended by over 70 persons. At a General Meeting held the same day, a Constitution was adopted and a General Committee elected, comprising the following:
President: Devaka Wickramasuriya Vice President: Sarath Sirisena, Secretary: Fred Amerasinghe, Treasurer: Hemannath Wickremesooriya
Committee Members: Randy Mcleod, Sunil (Hajji) Wickramasinghe, Winston Rupasinghe, Gnana Samaratunga. Tilak de Zoysa was elected as Trustee.
“The Mascots” currently has a membership of 90 resident members and 26 overseas members including plantation industry veterans such as David Perkins, John Riminton, Freddy Kreltszheim, Maurice Hermon, Maurice Koelmeyer, Duncan Hermon, Ian Gardner (formerly Gunawardene), Beaufort Weinman, Manilal Abeyawardena, Yasa Ratnayeke, Wickrema de Alwis, Gemunu (Jim) Amerasinghe, Malin Gunatilleke, Hemannath Wickremesooriya, S. Srikumar, M. Balendran, Nihal Kiriella, Nihal Boralessa, Rohan Jagoda,Steve Morrell, Jayantha Ratnayake, Tony Samaranayake and Dushy Perera who served as Managers of the larger estates in the district with distinction.
“The Mascots” also has as its members David Bretherton and Chris Bean, two of the legendary three B’s of Dickoya and Ceylon Rugby fame of the mid 1960’s.
A book authored by a member of “The Mascots” now domiciled in Australia – Ian Gardner (formerly of Forres and Alton Estates) – titled “My Experiences in Tea & Rubber Plantation Management in Ceylon 1952 to 1969” – will be presented to all Managers of estates in the region as well as copies placed in the libraries of the Maskeliya and Darrawella Clubs.