Dharmasena is ever willing to help basketball in Sri Lanka
In the mid sixties a young boy about sixteen years was seen everyday at St. Benedict’s college Basketball courts watching the Bens past and present at practices. This boy was there till the practices were over and he enjoyed helping them by picking the ball that bounced away from the courts and handing it back. After everyone left, if there was ball or two left, this young lad tried to shoot them in to the basket.
This lad was none other than the former Sri Lanka Basketball captain Ananda Dharmasena who is back in Sri Lanka on holiday from France. He came specially to take part in the Masters’ Basketball tournament concluded recently. He represented the Royal Basketball Club. When the Sunday Times spoke to him this was how he narrated his story from his young days to the present.
“Having lived in a house close to St. Benedict’s College at Kotahena I used to go and watch the Ben’s schools team practice every evening till it gets dark. By seeing boys of my age at practices, I too was encouraged to take up the game. Attending a little known Gunananda Vidyalaya where there is no sports, first with some boys of my age who are also interested in Basketball I formed a club named Springfield. We did not have a place to practice and we chose a by lane close to our house for practice.”
After about one year Springfield took part in an Open Basketball tournament organised by the Ceylon Schools Basketball Association at the Police courts.
“We beat a team from Trinco but failed to enter the final rounds. This victory doubled my interest and I made up my mind to go all the way into the game. Later our team entered another tournament for juniors for Under-17 players but at the last moment that tournament was changed to an Under-16 event thus preventing us in taking part.”
”The biggest set back I suffered was me being axed from a final 12 selected for a junior tournament to be held in India. The reason given was that I was not recommended by a school. That was the day I decided that one day I will play for the national team.”
“Later considering our performances our club was recognised to play in the Basketball Association’s ‘A’ segment.”
“I still remember that in a match against the strong Old Bens team comprising four or five national players, we gave a heroic fight and lost by a solitary point.”
“Having being selected for the national team at the age of 18, I played the game as a player and as a captain for 11 years, captaining the team from 1977 to 1979. I was fortunate to play in the company of Rienzie De Silva, Malsiri Perera, Late Percy Perera, Remigus Perera, the late Vishnu Mohan and host of outstanding players. We toured India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.”
“Though I was a national player, I was unemployed and I devoted my time to coaching the Ramblers Women’s Basketball team and St. Paul’s Girls School, Milagiriya team. Ramblers won the women’s championship while Milagiriya girls showed a tremendous improvement.”
“I am happy to say that I have produced several women national players – to name a few Soraya Thajudeen, Anoma Jayawardena, Chintha Fernando and Dushanthi.”
“As I could not find suitable employment in Sri Lanka I migrated to France where I have been staying for more than thirty years. Even at the age of 63 I still play for a club in Paris when time permits”.
The veteran cager said: “Even if you face set backs, with determination, courage and sacrifice anyone can reach the target you are aiming at.” He also paid a tribute for R. Vedanayagam and Mahendran for helping him at a time of need.
He concluded by saying that even if he lived abroad his heart is in Sri Lanka and his services are available if needed, to uplift Basketball in Sri Lanka.