Sirisoma - one of the finest cueists

Leslie Fernando

K. H. Sirisoma of Sri Lanka Ports Authority has shown and continue to be the best on the green baize. The most experienced cueist with perseverance, determination and daily six hour practice sessions is what made another "Maestro of the Baize".

Sirisoma, a Supervisor Logistic Section of SLPA is the third player after the late M. J. M. Lafir and Henry Boteju to hold unique records to be the national champion in both billiards and snooker in a calendar year. M. J. M. Lafir and Henry Boteju has achieved a similar feat before winning the snooker and billiards title more than once.

The SLPA employee "Maestro" has so far counted a score of years in the game and it were the authorities of the Sri Lanka Ports Authorities who gave all support and assistance to achieve great heights in the cue game.

Sirisoma has won the National Billiards Championships for 17 consecutive times to break former billiard maestro and world champion M. J. M. Lafir's long standing record. Lafir had won the title for 16 years in-a-row.

Sirisoma who started playing the cue game at the age of 12 years at Jayantha Sports Club, Kochchikade is happy that he beat great M. J. M. Lafir's record. He told the writer 'I took keen interest in billiards after witnessing maestro Lafir playing at the World Championships at the Sri Lanka Army headquarters tables at Galle Face.

"Since leaving Sri Palitha MV, Kotahena I really got involved in the sport. I loved billiards. I never had a coach but watching former players at several tournaments and with regular practice on the baize regularly. I picked the art of shop-potting and controlling the ball perfectly and snookering." Sirisoma's first win was in 1979 at the Colombo District Billiards Tournament.

Sirisoma had participated in all tournaments from 1979. His major title was winning the National Snooker Championships in 1984 defeating M. Sethupathy.

In 1995 Sirisoma became National Billiards champion defeating Henry Boteju, M. Raiban, W. Weerasinghe playing on round robin basis. Sirisoma established the new Sri Lanka record at the 55th National Billiard Championships defeating S. H. M. Aslam of Moors SC in the final 6-2. The new maestro of the table Sirisoma showed excellent form to eclipse M. J. M. Lafir's 34-year-old record.

Sirisoma has represented Sri Lanka at several Asian Championships, World Championships and Invitation Tournaments in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malta, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Ireland, Australia, Iran and Qatar. On two occasions he has reached the 'last eight' in the Asian Snooker Championships and World Snooker Championships held in 1987 and in 1988 in Colombo and Malaysia respectively.

The champion in the table game Sirisoma has fared prominently and was placed 8th amongst world renowned cueists at the Invitation Billiards Championships held in Macau in 2008.

He will continue to be in the game for few years before call it day, said Sirisoma. K. H. Sirisoma has been employed at SLPA since 1981. He has represented Cine Club, Borella and YMCA Colombo.