12 Thursday 12th May, 2011

“Kotahena is a lovely place. We really , Rienzie Perera and many more. enjoyed our childhood days to the maximum. It was the late Harold de Andrado who advised There was no class, colour or religions distinc- me to join this prestigious club,” stated tion. We lived like one family. We used to play Fernando. Brigadier Dr. H. I. K. Fernando very a lot of softball . There were many graciously allowed me to keep many clubs. I can remember there was a club times, in order to give me a chance to represent called Young Weavers. The international- the country. He is a fine gentleman. ly renowned sports writer, Elmo I knew keeping was a tough job. The Rodrigopulle, under whom I played my wicket keeper is the ‘Fulcrum’ – point on which first game in the First XI also played a lever is supported of the fielding side. The for the Young Weavers Club. Ten of us wicket keeper can transform the whole appear- played for a club named Sitamburgh. ance of it. The two most important facets in Fernando studied at one of the making a good wicket keeper are concentration leading schools in Sri Lanka, St. and the ability to catch. Benedict’s College, Kotahena. St. His personality will motivate a team. Benedict’s produced many great men Ranjit Fernando scored double centuries of learning, scholars, scientists, doc- thrice in his career and won prestigious prizes Doctors hope it will prevent the birth of oversized tors, lawyers, top bankers and busi- like the Macan Markar trophy for the fastest babies, thereby reducing the need for caesarean nessmen. hundred and the V.D. T. Fernando trophy, for the sections Ranjit had the distinction of double hundred. playing for St. Benedicts from 1960 “In 1964, I toured India as a member of the to 1964. He captained the college All Ceylon team. It was Dr. H. I. K. Fernando, team in 1962. Later, he played for two who played as the wicket keeper and I was his more years. understudy. Sri Lanka won the final Test against BABIES GIVEN “I am ever grateful to my India, led by the Nawab of Pataudi. Michael beloved teachers and coaches. To Tissera captained Ceylon. H.I.K., Abu Fuard, name a few, Brothers, Oliver Flavin Anuruddha Polonowita, Norton Frederick and ANTI OBESITY and Gnanapragasam, the Master-in- Stanley Jayasinghe contributed to this great win - Charge and Prefect of Games. He was a on foreign soil, for the first time. I still remem- marvellous man. He was more than a ber Sylvester Dias keeping us entertained by teacher to us. He was a philosopher and singing beautiful bailas. It was a marvellous DRUGS IN guide. They all moulded our character,” time. stated Fernando. “Epa, do you know how much we were Fernando was the number one school paid? Believe it or not, it was Rs. 15.00 for each THE WOMB player. We played for the love of the game and country,” stated abies to be given diet drug in the womb to Fernando. stop them being born overweight in trial Fernando had the proud Bdescribed as ‘disturbing’ by weight loss distinction of representing Sri groups. Lanka at the inaugural World One hundred obese mums-to-be will be given Cup in 1975. The members of that team Metformin as part of a three-year study to tackle were according to the batting obesity rates and reduce the number of difficult order; E. R. Fernando, B. births. Warnapura, A. P. B. Tennekoon, Patients at Liverpool Women's Hospital will be P. D. Heyn, M. H. Tissera, L. R. given the drug to reduce the food supply to their BY PREMASARA D. Mendis, A. N. Ranasinghe unborn babies, although it will not help the mums EPASINGHE (deceased), H. S. M. Pieris, A. R. themselves to lose weight. M. Opatha, D. S. de Silva and L. Leading the trial, senior lecturer in obstetrics, W. S. Kaluperuma. Dr Andrew Weeks, said: "It is about trying to On 7 June 1975, at improve outcomes in pregnancy for women who are Manchester, Old Trafford, Sri overweight. Lanka played their first match "The problem is babies tend to be larger and against the West Indies and many of the downsides of being overweight during were bowled out for 86 in 37.2 pregnancy relate to the birth." overs. It was a sixty over (60) Metformin reduces blood sugar levels which are affair. Fernando was caught by passed onto babies in the womb, and is already reg- Murray off the bowling of ularly used to treat diabetic mums-to-be, as well as Julian for four. diabetics in general. In their second match, played at the Kensinton Oval, During the study, half of the patients will take London, on 11 June 1975, chas- Metformin pills up to three times a day from 12 ing total of 328 for 5 made by weeks gestation, while the other half will be given Australia, in 60 overs, the Sri placebo drugs. Lankan cricketers responded Doctors hope it will prevent the birth of over- with a spirited 276 for 4 wickets, sized babies, thereby reducing the need for caesare- in their 60 overs. an sections. Sri Lanka opened with Sunil Wettimuny 53 Instances of pre-eclampsia, the potentially fatal (102 balls 7 fours, retired hurt) and Ranjit complication in pregnancy common to overweight Fernando, who scored 22 off 18 balls with four mothers, are also hoped to be reduced. boundaries, facing two of the fastest bowlers the The trial will run as a joint study between hospi- ri Lanka’s cricket and the name of this per- wicket keeper and opening batsman in the early world has ever seen – Dennis Lilee and Jeff sonality are inseperable. In the mid 1950s tals in Liverpool, Coventry and Edinburgh and will 1960s. In 1961, he was selected to tour India with Thomson. In this match, scored and early 1960s, he earned a name as a fine monitor over 400 women in total. S the Sri Lanka Schools side, which included the 32 off 45 balls (5 fours) was injured (head injury) wicket-keeper, opening batsman and graduated Dr Weeks added: "The difficulty comes when you likes of Sarath Wimalaratne, T. D. Rajapaksa, and the bowler was Jeff Thomson. to club circuit and played with distinction for have been living in a particular way for years that is Keith Labrooy, Hillary Marcelline, T. B. Ranjit is an internationally reputed TV many years. He represented the National cricket not healthy. Kehelgamuwa, Nanda Senanayake. The team commentator. “I started at Sharjah at the team at the inaugural World Cup in 1975, in "To suddenly change to a different lifestyle is not was captained by Yatagama Amaradasa of request of my good friend Sunil Gavaskar from England. Further, he became a coach, manager, easy to do. Ananda College. 1980 to 1990. In the 1990s, I became a professional selector, cricket administrator and an outstand- "Lifestyle change takes time and we would After leaving school, Ranjit Fernando TV Commentator,” said Fernando. ing international television cricket commenta- joined NCC and thus began his illustrious club “Epa, it’s a fine experience. Being a TV always encourage this as well but the use of tor. cricket career. commentator, I have travelled a lot, witnessed Metformin gives us another option when the other He is RANJIT FERNANDO. “Ranjit, knowing very well that the best many different cultures and got the opportunity is not realistic." He was born and bread in a multi-cultural wicketk, in Asia, Brigadier Dr. H. I. K. to be associated closely with the greatest of However, a leading expert behind the UK's and religious environment at Kotahena. His life Fernando, was the NCC keeper, what made you international cricket commentators. fastest growing weight loss organisation has voiced revolved round Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, to join a club like the Nondescripts,” “I will never forget, when we were on the concerns over giving pregnant women drugs to pre- Malays and Burghers in the area. His father, I queried. verge of winning the 1996 World Cup, Ritchie vent them having obese babies. Edward Fernando was a building contractor. “Epa, I never followed the herd. NCC was a Benand said; “Ranjit, you go to the dressing CEO of All About Weight, Alison Wetton, said: Ranjit lived at Kotahena with his parents. club open to all classes, creeds, colours and reli- room and be with the boys. I will do your turn.” "Women rightfully feel uneasy - no mother-to-be Ranjit Fernando’s father played cricket for gions. There were great men who headed the He is married to Ramani Fernando, an likes to take medication. St. Jospeh’s College, Maradana. Obviously, crick- club. Among them are Dr. N. M. Perera, who was internationally reputed hair dresser and beauti- "The fact that the widely-used diabetes pill, et was in his genes. There was always a bat and a fine gentleman and a politician of honesty and cian. ball in their home. Therefore, from their child- Metformin, is being trialled to prevent obese babies integrity. Thereafter we had Gamini Ranjit and Ramani are blessed with four hood, they played softball cricket. being born to overweight mothers is disturbing to Dissanayake, Lalith Athulathmudali and A. R. children, a daughter and three sons. As a tiny tot, Ranjit was sent to the montes- me, and I am sure most other women as well." N. de Fonseka, who was a leading lawyer. “Epa, our family is called the “R Family”. sori at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena. He Will Williams, scientific advisor for All About Among the NCC greats are Malcolm Spittle, My wife is Ramani. My daughter is Rashika. has a sister and a brother – Sunil Fernando, also Weight, added that, although there were "reasonable K. M. T. Perera, Malcolm Francke, Vernon Prins, The three sons are Rishen, Rehan and Rakhil. a fine cricketer. grounds" for the trial, it was "a shame that it is need- Dr. H. I. K. Ferando, Stanley Jayasinghe, Our dog is Rocky,” he said and smiled. ed at all". He said: "We know Metformin is safe in preg- nancy and has no negative effects on the child up to 2 years, but there is a lack of studies on older chil- dren. "Women wanting to conceive could instead lose weight by following a healthy weight loss plan, including diet and exercise. "This would achieve all the things that the Metformin trial is hoping to do, without the risks or costs of adding a drug with uncertain long term effects. BY TELEGRAPH STAFF 2011 could prove "deadly dangerous" and a huge "This would be far preferable to popping a pill Former England captain Tony Greig errror of judgement on the part of coach that may help pregnancy outcomes. has said England's decision to appoint Andy Flower. "It is unlikely to break the cycle of an unhealthy Alastair Cook one-day captain is a mis- Greig told The Sun: "They've made a take. guy captain of the one-day team who is not lifestyle leading to overweight children and the con- in the side. tinuing rise of obesity and diabetes in the general ook was handed the role of ODI skip- "He wasn't deemed good enough for the population." per after Andrew Strauss' decision to one-dayers in Australia or the World Cup. However, Jane Norman, Professor of Maternal Cstand down from the role. The That's deadly dangerous. and Foetal Health at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary England captaincy has now been split three "I would have had a long talk with and the University of Edinburgh, believes the bene- ways with Strauss in charge of Tests, Cook Strauss and told him 'We need you to carry fits of the trial will outweigh the risks. one-day internationals and Stuart Broad on for another year or so.' Prof Norman, a representative of leading preg- Twenty20s, replacing Paul Collingwood. "By which time, England would find out nancy charity Tommy's, said: "Research has shown It is the appointment of Cook, though, for sure whether Cook really is good that babies born to obese mothers are at increased that has caused the greatest split in opinion enough for one-day cricket. risk of complications in later life. as the Essex left-hander was not even con- "Now it seems the coach has more "Obese pregnant women have high levels of glu- sidered good enough for the 50-over team as power. You see all these glowing things cose and Metformin is proven to reduce glucose. written about Andy Flower and England recently as this year's World Cup in India. "We have to be careful with the use of drugs in were desperate to keep him. And Greig, never one to bite his tongue, pregnancy but we already know that it is safe to give "That's great, Flower is obviously doing believes England's appointment of Cook expectant mothers. a good job. But appointing Cook might be his first big mistake." "It is likely that Metformin will prevent babies Leaders of men: Alastair Cook (centre) © The Telegraph from getting too big and, putting all these factors has been given captaincy role Group London 2011 together, I am confident that the benefits will out- weigh the risks." © The Telegraph Group London 2011