All-Conquering University of Colombo Team in 1970

A Note from Mevan Pieris, 17 May 2021

This is a photograph of the University of Colombo 1970 cricket team, which was captained by me, and which ended up as Sara trophy league champions beating Nomads CC with nine Sri Lanka players at the University grounds to end up at top of the table. I am the only player seated in the centre wearing the Sri Lanka national blazer and crest, and the rest are wearing the university Colombo crest. In the final round that followed the university examinations clashed and several players were not available and therefore could not win the Sara trophy. It must be also noted that unlike in Carlyle Perera’s victorious year we were only a Colombo team, whereas Carlyle’s was a then University of Ceylon, combined team of both Colombo and Peradeniya. Both Peradeniya and Colombo separated as two separate universities in the late 1960s, when I was an undergraduate.

In my first year, I played under Sarath Wimalaratne who captained a University of Ceylon team of both Peradeniya and Colombo players. It was a new experience for me to play cricket with so many wonderful undergrads from different backgrounds. Sarath was a great all-rounder and a lovely captain.I enjoyed every bit playing under him.