The 80th Inter-divisional Police Athletic Meet, which is currently being held, truly deserves to be considered as one of the momentous events. In retrospect, when considering all the Sports Meets from the inaugural Police Inter-divisional Athletic Meet, held in 1902 at the Colombo Race Course, to the 80th Athletic Meet, held for 03 consecutive days starting from 31st March to 02nd April 2017, anyone interested in studying the history of Sri Lankan Athletics would certainly and conclusively unveil many a fact with regard to a multitude of outstanding athletes, who have represented the athletic field of this country both nationally and internationally.
Major F. Nolis, who had served as the fourth Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka, is considered to be one of the pioneers who had introduced many sports to Sri Lanka Police and he took the initiative in conducting the inaugural Inter-divisional Police Athletic Meet in 1902. The ‘Nolis Shield’, which was bestowed upon the best all round by Major Nolis during the first Sports Meet, is still recognized as the oldest and most prestigious shield which is still being awarded within the field of sports in Sri Lanka.
Meet held at Police Park since 1925
The Police Athletic Meet which had initially been held at the Race Course has been held at the Police Grounds Bambalapitiya since 1925 and the history can vouch for this. Sir Richard Aluwihare, who was the first Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police in 1947, had started holding the Police Athletic Meet representing the level of administrative districts and during the time when Aleric Abeygunawardena, the 16th Inspector General of Police, was holding office in 1967, measures had been taken to hold this on the level of police divisions as it is being done today. The field of athletics has been endowed with a significant number of excellent sports persons who had been brought to light through 80th Inter-divisional Police Athletic Meets held throughout 115 years from 1902 to 2017.
We should honour and commemorate the Deputy Inspector General of Police, . C. C. Dissanayake who not only became the National Champion for throwing shot put consecutively for 7 times but also won the gold medal for shot put throw at South Asian Olympic Games held in New Delhi in 1934 and Osman De Silva, the second Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka, who was the Sri Lankan record-holder in 100 and 200 meter events.
Furthermore, Deputy Inspector General of Police, A. C. Dep who became the National Champion in pole vaulting event from 1936 to 1939, R. E. Bales, who was the National Champion in javelin throw event in 1931, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Chandra Senanayake, who had gained fame as the National Champion in discus throw event for 13 consecutive years from 1935 to 1948, R. V. Pillai, who became the National Champion in discus throw event in 1934, Senior Superintend of Police, Nimal Fernando, who was the National Champion in 440 yards hurdling event from 1960 – 1964, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Lionel Karunasena, who became the National Champion in long jump event in 1964 and Mr. P. L. Karunasena, who became the national triple jump Champion in 1970, were among the exceptional athletes whose names will go down in the annals of the history of inter-divisional athletics.
Having granted the captaincy of Sri Lankan Athletic Team during Indo-Ceylon Dual Athletic Meet, which was held in Madras in 1967, Sub Inspector of Police, Piyadasa Fernando made history as the second Police athlete who led an Athletic Team when they were representing Sri Lankan in an international tournament.
DIG A.C.Dep led Ceylon in 1946
Deputy Inspector General of Police, A.C. Dep who led the Sri Lankan team at Indo-Ceylon Dual Meet in 1946, goes down in history as the first police athlete who assumed leadership of a national athletic team representing Sri Lanka during an international tournament.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, K. Sathkunaraja, the National Champion in high jump event from 1958 to 1960, Sub Inspector of Police Ramalingam Rajendra (Later known as Abdul Rasak), who was the National Champion in the 10,000 and 5,000 meter events from 1974 to 1978, Deputy Inspector General of Police, O. K. Hemchandra, the National Champion in 400 meter event in 1963, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Chandra Mendis, who became the school champion in 120 meter hurdling event in 1952 and the one who set a new record in 110 meter hurdling event at the Inter-divisional Athletic Meet (which had remained unbroken until 1990),
Senior Superintendent of Police, Chinniah Navarathnam, who won the gold medal for triple jump and long jump at Indo-Ceylon Dual Meet in 1960, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. P. L. Karunasena, who was awarded a special diploma certificate by securing the fifth place during Asian Games (Asian Games 1970 – Bangkok, Thailand), Inspector of Police, Mr. Premalal Weerasinghe, the National Champion in triple jump event from 1972 to 1978, and Police Sergeant R. V. Weerasundara, the National Champion in 400 meter event, have contributed towards making history as renowned figures who conquered the national and international sports arena through the Police Athletic Meet.
Police dominated field of athletics
During free and post-colonial eras and had great athlete such as E. G. Labrooy, D. S. de Silva, W. T. Siebel, S. A. Dissanayake, R. E. Kitto, W. T. Sanders, David Thambiah, R. A. Stork, R. R. Scott, Bertus Perera, Leslie Jayabandu, Ivan Boteju, Oswald Rajapakse, V. T. Mahalingam, P.
Mahendran (Brute), Christie Dareeju, R. A. F. Perera, Trevor Barthalot and the one and only woman Police athlete who joined the Police as a Woman Constable to end up as the first Senior Superintendant of Police, Premila Diwakara, an outstanding sprinter from Sri Pali, Horana.
As a matter of great historical significance, it should be noted that the Sri Lankan record set by Sub Inspector of Police, Ranjith Subasinghe after finishing 800 meter event in 1:4.56 and the said record has remained unbroken since 25th December, 1993 Up to date Woman Sub Inspector of Police, Achala Dias, who represented the 100 meter event, and Lasanthi Deepika, who represented 800 and 400 x 4 meters, are among the Police sportswomen who emerged victorious representing the police athletics on both national and international levels.
The names of Woman Police Constable, Samila Ayesha, who became the National Champion in the decathlon event in 2012, Woman Police Sergeant, Malkanthi Weerakkodi, who was the National Marathon Champion and Woman Police Constable, Mallika Chandrakanthi, who secured the gold medal at the Colombo Marathon in 2012 are worth mentioning as a means of recognizing their immense contribution towards Sri Lankan athletic field while representing Sri Lanka Police.
Furthermore, Nadeeshani Waragoda, who represented Sri Lanka in 100 and 200 meter events, the athlete, S. K. Pathirana, who won the Gold medal for 200 meter event representing the 100 and 200 meter events at the Grand Prix tournament held in Malaysia and the athlete, Shalika Ramanayaka, who represented Sri Lanka at 400 meter event, should be mentioned as sports persons who have contributed generously towards hoisting the police flag high over the field of Sri Lankan athletics.
On this occasion, when the 80th Police Athletic Meet is being held at Bambalapitiya Police Grounds, which can be aptly named as the birth place of many talented sportsmen and sportswomen both in the past and the present, I would respectfully acknowledge the contribution and indomitable courage of all the male and female sports persons, coaches and administrators throughout history who helped secure an honorable place for the name of Sri Lanka Police in the history of both national and international athletics and the support extended by all the members of theground staff who are tirelessly engaged in maintaining the ground.