Inspirational Leader

A TRIBUTE FROM SLOTY 2006 INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

he award of the ‘Sri Lankan Of digm led to efforts at reform, such as the Reverend Alexander Fraser’s inspired deter- The Year’ accolade to yet another decentralisation process begun by former mination and Reverend L. J. Gaster’s unique sportsperson may at first glance President Ranasinghe Premadasa through vision of a place of worship for the faith of seem unsurprising. A country Potemkin projects like the Gam Udawa and Trinity’s founders – was built in the vernac- bedevilled with polemical politics, the haphazard spread of garment factories ular idiom. widespread corruption and contin- throughout the country. It was an attempt to The Eurasian Christian David Paynter’s Tuing violence does not easily satisfy its des- redistribute resources and opportunities murals of Biblical scenes in a Sri Lankan set- perate emotional need for national icons equitably, which we now see continuing with ting painstakingly and lovingly restored by searching among the many outstanding pro- President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the devel- the gentle Stanley Kirinde, the Kandyan fessionals in our midst. It looks to the less opment of his bailiwick in Hambantota and Buddhist, extends the themes of understand- complex world of sports, where achievement the road development throughout the island. ing, fusion and synergy. This chapel truly is clear-cut and popular acclaim less ambigu- The ‘kiri’ hitherto confined to Colombo is symbolises the ethos of Trinity – its roots in ous. In point of fact, since 1995 – when slowly replacing the ‘kakiri’ which the the indigenous traditions of Sri Lanka, its LMD inaugurated this award – among the 16 provinces had to be satisfied with for so dedication to the development of the total previous recipients one can only count four long. personality of those who pass through it sportspersons, all of whom achieved unques- Likewise, future leaders in all spheres are intellectually, spiritually and physically, and tioned global recognition bringing pride to increasingly coming from provincial schools its openness to the bracing winds of diversi- Sri Lanka. like those that produced Muralitharan and ty and change. Sangakkara remains a loyal But the selection of Kumar Sangakkara as Sangakkara even though they had to come to old boy, supporting the school in all its activ- LMD’s 17th Sri Lankan Of The Year tran- clubs in Colombo to be recognised. It is a ities especially cricket. scends the world of sport. Muttiah Murali- trend that Sangakkara himself noted in his Leaving Trinity, Kumar Sangakkara em- tharan’s choice last year was welcomed both outstanding Colin Cowdrey Lecture. barked on his career as a professional crick- for his legendary bowling prowess and the Kumar Sangakkara was born in Matale on eter, putting his law studies on hold. His rise world records he established, as well as for 27 October 1977 and grew up in Kandy to cricketing stardom is too well known to his role as a unifying figure in a country where his father practised as a lawyer. An recovering from the dark memories of a 30- English clergyman, Reverend Walter Stanley year conflict. Very few thought of this Senior – who spent several years in Kandy as unique Sri Lankan as belonging to an ethnic Vice-Principal of Trinity – described it as a and religious minority in the country. Murali place “where river, lake and mountain meet, was, and is, Sri Lanka. our boyhood’s home surrounding, a path Sangakkara is likewise more than the wick- behold for youthful feet, the path of life et-keeper batsman who captained the Sri abounding.” Lankan team to be runners-up in the 2011 The former hill capital, with Hantana and ICC Cricket World Cup. He is an inspira- Hunasgiriya standing sentinel, was the last tional national figure, leading us on the road bastion of Sri Lankan sovereignty till the from reconciliation to rebuilding a new 1815 Kandyan Convention when the entire nation on a solid foundation of values drawn island was ceded to foreign rule. The cus- from our rich history as well as from modern tody of the Tooth Relic in the Sri Dalada democratic concepts. It would require the Maligawa, which Sangakkara’s Kandy home magical pen of a Cyril Lionel Robert James overlooks, lends a special aura to the city. No or a Sir John Frederick Neville Cardus to one who has spent his entire childhood and write about Sangakkara the cricketer – the adolescence in Kandy – as Sangakkara did – elegance of his stroke play and the panther- can be unaffected by its exceptional beauty, like speed of his wicket keeping. But it is the traditional customs and unique atmo- other Sangakkara – the man who delivered sphere… and even more so having met his the soul-stirring Colin Cowdrey Lecture at wife there. Lord’s on 4 July – whose choice as Sri Trinity College – established by British Lankan Of The Year must be celebrated here. missionaries in 1872 to serve the education- That is the deeper chord at the core of our al needs of residents in the Kandyan areas – national emotions, which the nomination of was the obvious choice of school for Kumar Sangakkara touches and resonates with all Sangakkara, whose kinsmen had shone in Sri Lankans. the same institution. He emulated them all, Significantly, both Muralitharan and becoming the Senior Prefect and cricket cap- Sangakkara were born and raised outside tain, and being awarded a cricketing Lion Colombo and the Western Province, which and finally, the Ryde Gold Medal for the best have dominated the political, economic and all-rounder in his year – an award epitomis- cultural life of the country in over six ing the Western classical virtues of ‘mens decades of our post-independence history. A sana in corpore sano.’ Trinity fused the best lopsided 45 per cent of the nation’s GDP of the British public school model with the continues to come from the Western traditions of Sri Lanka in a unique ambience. Province, which also enjoys the highest per The Trinity College Chapel – that stupen- capita income. That centre-periphery para- dous architectural creation born of Principal

126 – DECEMBER 2011 – LMD ❝Kumar Sangakkara’s impact on Sri Lanka when his cricketing career finally ends will be as wide as it will be deep…❞ Jayantha Dhanapala

recount. Quite apart from Sangakkara’s history as a parallel trend to the broadening Kumar Sangakkara’s impact on Sri Lanka cricketing skills and feats, there is the grace of the base of our democracy, but it also when his cricketing career finally ends will and dignity he brings to his representative encapsulated the ethos of Sri Lanka. be as wide as it will be deep. Whether he will role as the quintessential Sri Lankan when he Incidents citing the generosity of the villager continue in cricket as an administrator or travels abroad and speaks to the global serving his over-sugared tea and the move to other pastures as a lawyer, he will media. There is also his undoubted influence Sangakkara household bravely offering their continue to be a leader. “Who will write a as a role model for our youth. His holistic Tamil fellow citizens and friends a safe biography of Sir Donald Bradman,” noted view was illustrated in the speech he made at haven in 1983 conveyed essential Sri Cyril Lionel Robert James, “must be able to the launch of sports scribe Rex Clementine’s Lankan traits. That eloquence upholding the write a history of Australia in the same peri- book, when he said: “To excel at something values of a pluralist society spoke more od.” you need to know its culture, you need to cogently as a response to the brutality the That is how embedded Kumar Sangakkara embrace its history.” This was nowhere more country stands accused of in the report of the is in the Sri Lanka of today. evident than in his sparkling MCC Spirit of UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts Sir Neville Cardus, the other legendary Cricket Cowdrey Lecture – it was a remark- and in the Channel 4 documentary than all sports scribe, once wrote: “We remember not able piece of oratory delivered with poise the overheated Government statements put the scores and the results in after years; it is and polish. together. the men who remain in our minds, in our Enough encomiums have been paid to He modestly sees himself as a part of Sri imagination.” Sangakkara will long be Sangakkara on that finely chiselled speech. Lanka’s cricketing legacy. But he is not per- remembered as a man of dignity and integri- The sole discordant note registered by a fect. Like Homer, he nods when he displays ty who made all Sri Lankans proud at a time politician has long been ignored. Sangakkara impatience with a fielding lapse or engages when we needed leaders we could admire. represents the youth of Sri Lanka, and a in an unnecessary spat with Australian cap- The quest for a leader we can respect in future of unity and reconciliation. His speech tain Michael Clarke. Some of his fans have 2011, and through whom we can restore not only captured the spirit of Sri Lankan been concerned about his judgement in belief in ourselves, leads us to Kumar cricket through a perceptive recounting of its accepting certain advertising roles. Sangakkara. MEDIA SERVICES PHOTOFILE (INDRARATNE BALASURIYA)

Jayantha Dhanapala – LMD’s SLOTY in 2006 – writes in favour of our 2011 nomination and says that the quest for a leader we can respect this year leads us to Kumar Sangakkara

127 – DECEMBER 2011 – LMD