Former Holy Cross College, Kalutara and Prince of Wales’ College athlete, cricketer, soccerite and basketball player, Sri Lanka Army under 23 and Defence Services Under 23 basketball player, Mercantile Association athlete, Fitness Trainer, Gym Instructor, Physical Education Instructor, Sri Lanka Masters athlete and cricket manager Sunil Peiris spoke to the Daily News at his residence 38, Katukurunda, Moratuwa.
Q. Can you tell something briefly about yourself and your family?
A. My full name is Kuda Thelge Sunil Lambert Anthony Peiris and I was born on 21st December 1953 and I have an elder sister. My father is Kuda Thelge Lambert Peiris and he was at National Savings Department and my mother is Viviene Margret Wijesuriya who was a housewife. My late wife is Shiromi Peiris nee Fernando, a teacher at St. Sebastian’s College and St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. I have a son.
Q. What is your first school?
A. I was at Holy Cross College up to Grade 9 and I entered Prince of Wales’ and was there from Grade 10 to 13.
Q. Did you do sports whilst at school?
A. At Holy Cross I played for the first eleven for two years. I was a left-arm leg spinner and a right hand opening bat and my coach was Peter Fonseka, the Rector was Rev. Fr. Theodore Perera and the Sports Master was Rev. Fr. Pius Karunaratne. I did athletics and the coach was Dunstan Fernando and I also played basketball and football for the college. When I was under 12 I did 100, 200 yards and in the under 16 hurdles, high jump, 100 and 200 yards and I came first. In the under 19 400, 800, 1500 yards and the triple jump I was the Senior Athletic Champion. In the under 15 I came first in 300 yards at college and at Western Province and took part at the Public Schools.
Q. What are the sports you did at Prince of Wales’?
A. In my first year I did the 800 yards and in the second year 400, 800 and long jump and I was the joint senior champion with former Sri Lanka cricketer Granville de Silva but he never played cricket at school. In the Western Province I came second in the 800. Our team won the 4x440 and 4x110 at the Western Province.
I set a school record for the 800 yards and represented in the Junior Nationals and placed fifth. I also won school colours. I played for the first eleven cricket team under Priyantha Jayasekara in 1971 and played for the football team. During this period there was no basketball at Prince of Wales
Q. What is your employment?
A. I joined the Ceylon Army and I was there for about two years. During my combat training period at Diyatalawa I was the Best Loser in Boxing. I played for the Diyatalawa Unit basketball team at the Diyatalawa Sports Festival. We won the Championship. I represented Army in the under 23 basketball team and I played for the under 23 Defence Services team.
Q. What was your next job?
A. At Hotel Oberoi I won the five Kilometer Road Race for three successive years. I took part in the 400 and 800 meters at the Mercantile Athletic meet and I came first in the 400 and second in the 800 meters. For the Inter-Department I played basketball, football and cricket and I was adjudged as the Oberoi Best All Rounder Runner-Up. Then I joined King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia and I was there for two years and I played for the cricket team and managed the team also. I was a member of the Sri Lanka basketball team in Saudi Arabia and we won the championship. In athletics I won the 400 meters and participated at the Road Races. Then I returned to Sri Lanka and joined Hotel Ramada Renaissance as a Fitness Instructor and I opened the Gymnasium. I played rugger for the hotel team in the Mercantile Rugby tournament in the “B” Division. Then I went to United Arab Emirates and I was In charge of the Swimming Pool and was the Fitness Officer. I came back to Sri Lanka and joined Otters Aquatic Club as a Gym Instructor and Fitness Trainer and Jayalath Fernando is one of my product.
Q. Were you involved in coaching at school level?
A. I joined Lyceum International School, Panadura and prior to that I was at Riverina Hotel which comes under Confifi Group and I was involved in the opening of the Gymnasium. I took part in athletics too and I was the Best Runner Up representing them in Travel Trade Athletics. At Riverina I participated in the Masters 400 and 400 meters hurdles and came first. At Lyceum I was the Physical Education Instructor and the Athletic Coach. From there I shifted to St. Sebastian’s College as the Fitness Trainer for all sports. Their relay team won the 4x100 meters event several times and since 2014 I am running my own Gymnasium. In 2008. I received the Deshamanya Kreeda Shoori Award from the Sri Lanka Samagi Association. I was selected to represent Masters at the 18th Asian Games in Japan but I could not participate.
Q. Were you involved in Old Boys activities?
A. I am a member of the Prince of Wales’ College Old Boys Association and in one of their Colours Nites I was invited as the Guest of Honor.
Q. What is the advice you can give to youngsters?
A. In addition to your studies we must do at least one sport. According to the game you are engaged in you must do Strength Training and presently I am writing a book on the Importance of Strength and Fitness Training.
Note: Sunil can be contacted on 0718011919
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