
President of the SLMCC Ananda Jayasekera cutting the cake to celebrate their 75th anniversary at the Colombo Golf Club premises on Wednesday in the presence of Committee members Yoshitha Rajapaksa (VP), Suranjith Premadasa (VP), BJ Suresh Kumar (Secretary), Pradeep Wijesiriwardena (Asst. Secretary), Dhammika Peiris (Treasurer), Shantha Suraweera (Asst. Treasurer), Thilak Peiris (outstation Secretary), Anton Raja Gunetilleke, Anil Jayakody, Prasanna de Alwis, Ajith Hemachandra, Ramal Pathirathne, Sujith Karunasekera, Wng, Cdr (rtd.) Avindra Mirando, Maj. Gen. Indu Samarakoon and Lt. Col (rtd.) Duminda Jayasinghe. Picture by Sulochana Gamage
The Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club (SLMCC) celebrated its 75th anniversary on March 16 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club with a simple ceremony attended by the club’s president Ananda Jayasekera and all committee members and a few invitees along with four leading up-and-coming young riders. These four riders were specially invited to get their views on the present management of the club, according to the president.
Tracing the history of the SLMCC which was earlier called Ceylon Motor Cycle Club, Jayasekera said it was formed by one motorcycle enthusiast Wally de Zylva on March 16, 1947 with the assistance of another racing enthusiast Andrew Mirando. “After a discussion they decided to form the Ceylon Motor Cycle Club which was changed to Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club in 1971. With the formation of the club it conducted a mass event and circuit meet at the Rotherham Air Base circuit, Katukurunda, on December 7, 1947 which became a success,” he said.
In the year 1948, the club organised Reliability Trials (presently known as Rallying) covering 461 miles and it was continuously held for 25 years. Andrew Mirando was the man who worked hard to make all these events a success after competing in the Isle of Man. His visit also helped him to arrange a tour for a team of riders from Ceylon to visit the Isle of Man and also commenced the first road race in the country in Nuwara Eliya the same year. Mirando was instrumental in organising circuit meets for racing riders on the Katukurunda airstrip. Records show that Mirando had discussions with the Royal Ceylon Air Force to get permission for this purpose.
The club organised a road race in Kurunegala in 1952. With riders taking a great interest in motorcycle racing, the then officials led by Mirando paved the way for Sri Lanka riders to participate in Indian and Malaysian meets from 1956 to 61.
The then CMCC which was well organized got the opportunity in the year 1969 to conduct the first international motorcycle racing meet when they held the Asian Road Racing Championship at Galle Face. To add glamour to this event, Ceylon’s Bathiya Mirando won the title with the runner-up being another Ceylonese in Ivor Dreiberg.
With more and more riders taking to racing, the club too had to move forward and every year it kept on introducing many events such as the Grand Prix in 1972 which also attracted a few foreigners as well as drivers for the Katunayake circuit in 1972.
The SLMCC took steps to add Ford Formula cars especially during Katukurunda circuit meets which attracted many present senior drivers. Full credit should be given to veteran Formula drivers of the SLMCC like Rohan de Silva and Suranjith Premadasa who are still keen on Formula racing and encouraging the younger ones. This also has given the young drivers an opportunity to drive Formulas on local ground.
The SLMCC also took their racing to the Southern Province by conducting a race named Road Race Galle in 1992. This initiative also helped southern drivers and riders in a big way and in fact southerners formed a motor racing club to support racing in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club entered the world record books when it became the first country to introduce three-wheelers to run on the racing tracks. Though it does not have high speeding events, the racing fans got the chance to witness thrilling moments through this new introduction.
At present SLMCC is one of the leading motor racing clubs in the country conducting many events with the support of sponsors who come forward to help its endeavours. Other motor racing clubs in the country and also all drivers and riders too are very supportive of SLMCC.
The two young champion riders who were present, Jaden Gunewardena and Jacques Gunewardena and two young drivers Kushan Pieris and Kesara Godage said that they were thankful to the SLMCC for promoting motor racing in the country and are ready to give their best towards the club activities at all times for the betterment of the sport.