AN APPRECIATION OF A DISTINGUISHED ROYALIST, A
PROFESSIONAL AND A CRICKET ENTHUSIAST.
BY: S. S. PERERA
One of the few Royalists to get his name in the
prestigious "WISDEN CRICKETERS' ALMANACK", is Ajith Chrysantha Stephen
Perera, who received the worthy recognition to be amongst EIGHT CRICKET
PEOPLE FOR 1999. Ajith as he is known to all, has spent over 25 years taking
much interest in the technical and training side of cricket, for which he
even sacrificed a much prosperous professional career as a Chartered
Chemist and a Senior Manager.
After his
education first at the Primary School (1957-62) and then at Royal College
(1963-71), he entered the University of Colombo (1972-77). He played cricket
for the University and its Staff teams during this period and in 1975 also
qualified as an Umpire from the Association of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka, on
whose executive committee he served during (1982-88). He went to England
many times from his own money and first qualified as a professional Umpire
(1985), then as a Scorer (1987) and again in 1990 as a competent training
instructor. In ^.988 he was responsible for organising a very successful
personality development seminar for the ACU titled "the Effective Umpire".
In 1996 at the request of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, he single handedly
revised the rules and playing conditions for all tournaments conducted by
the BCCSL rectifying many a critical shortcoming. He was also responsible
for planning and conducting single handedly a training program for the BCCSL
Scorers selected for the U-19 World Cup Tournament here, the first ever
formal training for scorers in Sri Lanka. Ajith now a life member of ACUSL
since 1999, was die author of a well researched 242 page book titled "The
Golden Era of Sri Lankan Crickef published in 1998.
In 1992 November, he was selected to the Six Member panel
of Test Match Umpires by the BCCSL. Before that in 1990 Ajith was afforded
the rare honour by the prestigious Lancashire County in England to Umpire
for 16 weeks in their best Leagues and County 2nd XI games at
famous Old Trafford. In worthy recognition of his achievements and services
to the game, prestigious Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2000 selected him as
one of the Eight Cricket People for 1999. 1 very much believe, he' is the
first and only Royalist to receive such worthy recognitions and bring honour
to Sri Lanka as a non test player.
Some
reference is necessary in his educational sphere. I believe no other
academician who has such prestigious qualifications .has ventured into any
aspects of Cricket here. Its rare feats to qualify simultaneously in many an
avenue of two different fields of Cricket and Chemistry and bring honour to
Royal and the Country. He graduated with B.Sc. (Honours) in 1975 and then
completed Ins Master of Science Degree in Analytical Chemistry, with Quality
Assurance as his field of specialisation. For Ills worthy contributions he
received the highest recognition in being elected as a FELLOW of Three
International Bodies, The Royal Society of Chemistry London, Institute of
Chemistry Ceylon and The Institute of Quality Assurance England. Besides
these he is a member of numerous other international bodies and is the
worthy recipient of an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy by tile Open
International University. Ajith started life as a University Lecturer and
soon moved into Industry first with Glaxo Ceylon Limited and then holding
key Senior Managerial positions (1980-1992) with Mackwoods Winthrop and
Hemas Manufacuring Limited, until cruel fate struck him down in 1993.
Absence of even tile basic facilities for Accessibility-
to buildings on Wheel Chairs even to Professionals like Ajith, has deprived
him opportunities to offer his services to Cricket even as a third umpire
and also to our Society. Yet, he remains quite mobile on his Wheel Chair and
much determined overcoming adversity to be of mutual benefit. I believe many
of our Royalist, both Young and not so Young, could easily find ways and
means to assist a personality like Ajith, who has still much to contribute
to the game we love so much and also to the Society' and the Country.
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