Sri Lanka's outstanding Volleyball sisters

Life and times in sport by Premasara Epasinghe

Sita and Sunethra, the reputed volleyball sisters hails from Ullalapola, a village situated six miles off Minuwangoda in the Gampaha District.

Sita was born on 18th October 1940 and Sunethra on 13th October 1944. Their parents Dayaratne Kulatunga - a businessman and Jarpin Ekanayake. Six in the family. They are Chandra, Piyalatha, Chitra two brothers are Cyril and Dr. Premachandra Kulatunga. Sita is the sixth in the family and the youngest is Sunethra.

Sita and Sunethra studied at Nalanda Vidyalaya, Minuwangoda. From their childhood they were interested in sports and took part in sports.

The "Golden Era" of sports at Minuwangoda Nalanda College was dawned in the year 1956, when Dharma Tennekoon joined the staff as a physical training instructress. She was a volleyball coach and she introduced to the "Ten Points system" Volleyball. She was a student of the famous Indian Volleyball Coach Dhanaraj. There started women's volleyball and schools such as Nalanda Vidyalaya, Minuwangoda, St. Thomas' College, Kotte, Christ Church Baddegama, St. John-Bosco, Vidyakara Maharagama, Bishops College Colombo, commenced playing volleyball.

Volleyball - once a popular sports discipline

Day by day, volleyball became a popular sports discipline. Gampaha, Kaduwela, Ja-Ela, Tudella, Galoya, Potupitiya, Trincomalee and Jaffna became for as in men's volleyball.

"We practised daily. But, we were beaten by either Christ Church, Baddegama or St. John Bosco from 1956 to 1960. But, thereafter, from 1961 Nalanda Minuwangoda Women's volleyball team, won the women's VB title for three consecutive years.

Sita and Sunethra sisters played Badminton too. In 1958, a world Badminton player Magaret Wanna, visited Sri Lanka. Along with late Ariyadasa Silva, she held Badminton camps for up and coming players. Sita and Sunethra were selected from Minuwangoda to attend these camps. Sunethra was adjudged as the under 13 Junvenile-runner-up.

The first love of the Kulatunga sisters were volleyball. During this period, I. Wijesinghe of Wellampitiya, formed a women's volleyball team, which included Sita and Sunethra Kulatunga sisters.

Volleyball - king of sports in 1950s

In 1950s, volleyball was undoubtedly the king of sports in Sri Lanka. In 1959, the Indian women's and men's volleyball teams toured Sri Lanka. In the Sri Lanka, India "Tests", - Kulatunga sisters shone. Sita was an outstanding "Dasher" and Sunethra was the "passer". They played so well there were banner headlines in the papers the following day.

"India fight against Kulatunga sisters"

Sita appointed captain

After the first-test, Sita Kulatunga was nominated as the captain. Sri Lanka women's volleyball team read as follows: Sita Kulatunga (captain), Asoka Wijetunga, Sunethra Kulatunga, Puspha Siriwardane, Melwina Mallappa, Kamala Nagodawithana, Latha & Sisi from police.

Sunethra Kulatunga was the "Babe of the team." She was under 15 when she represented Sri Lanka, a unique record indeed.

After this Indo-Sri Lanka matches from October 1959, Indian and Sri Lanka women volleyball teams undertook a two weeks tour in Sri Lanka to promote the game in outstations. They played matches in Potupitiya, Horana, Minuwangoda, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Galle and Matara.

"Thousands and thousands flock to see us playing. As grounds were jammed pack, at Horana and Kurunegala, many were witnessing the matches from tree - tops. Some branches fell with spectators and some keen spectators were injured. This shows how popular volleyball about four or five decades ago. Today, volleyball is the national game only in paper. How unfortunate it is," stated Sunethra Kulatunga. In matches, Kulatunga sisters used the "over-head service" to their advantage. In one Test match, India were trounced due to Sunethra's services.

"For Indians, there was no answer for my overhead services, I scored six consecutive points, and finished off the game with my services. Indians were beaten well and timely" stated Sunethra Kulatunga.

"Thambuttegama Yodaya" controlled the crowd

"I still remember an incident at Anuradhapura. There were easily more than 3,000 spectators to witness the Indo-Sri Lanka match. The crowd was so much at times, they encroached into the playing area. Sometimes, because of the crowd and spectator invasion, I found difficult to send my over-head services. Do you know who controlled the crowd? The famous Thambuttegama "Yodaya" - quipped Sunethra Kulatunga.

Minuwangoda became famous due to volleyball and the main contributors were Sita and Sunethra.

Once they left Minuwangoda to Colombo to further their studies, there was no one to carry out their good work and volleyball faced its natural death.

In 1964, Sunethra Kulatunga entered the university of Ceylon, Colombo, and completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree (Sinhala, Geography - Economics) in 1969.

"I tried my level best to form a women's volleyball team in the university. But, there were only four girls. So, I gave it up with disgust" stated Sunethra Kulatunga.

Outstanding athlete

Sunethra Kulatunga was an outstanding athlete at the university. She took part, in shot put, discus, javelin and won university athletic colours.

"I held the inter-university women put-shot record for ten years, until such time, my teacher, A. J. Rodrigo's, daughter, Deepika Rodrigo (Sri Lanka Record-holder) broke my record.

After graduating in 1972, I joined the ministry of sports as a sport officer. I represented government services volleyball tournament and annexed the title three times.

Sports Ministry officials turned down my request for VB schol

"My biggest disappointment was when my application for a foreign scholarship for volleyball coaching was turned down by the sports ministry officials.

Can you imagine, the officials wanted me to produce certificates to prove that I played volleyball for Sri Lanka" - stated Sunethra Kulatunga.

In 1985, Sunethra Kulatunga was promoted as an assistant secretary of the ministry of sports. She retired in 1990.

Net-ball player/coach

Sunethra Kulatunga played net-ball and later she followed courses under Australian and English coaches and turned to be a coach - umpire in netball. She worked as Colombo and Kalutara district netball coach.

"With my hard-work, I was able to produce four girls from Kalutara District, to represent Sri Lanka in the world up team. I am really delighted on this achievement" stated Sunethra Kulatunga.

Sunethra Kulatunga was a member of Sri Lanka volleyball selection committee from 1984 to 1990.

Joined CIS

In 1996, she joined the Colombo International school as a Physical Training Instructor. She is in-charge of swimming in the Junior school are Basket-ball. Added to it, she functions as junior cricket teacher. There are two coaches for cricket. In the year 2005, CIS won the under 11 Inter International School Championship.

In 1969, she married D. Mahinda Wickrama - a businessman. They have two daughters - Anjani and Mahesi Anjani is an announcer in Raja F. M. and Mahesi is attached to Seylan Bank. Their only son, Asela is in Australia.

Sita Kulatunga tied the nuptial knot in 1965 with Dr. Rejendra Cooray, She is presently settled down in Australia.

They have three sons - Amal - a Doctor, Dushan - Engineer, Sriyan - An Accountant.