MAJOR DUNCAN WHITE’S 99TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

Major Duncan White was born on March 1, 1918 at Lathpandura, near Badurueliya, in the Kalutara District. White married Angela Siebel and they had six children: Nita, Marylene, Fiona, Dan, Maxine and Chris.

England was of significant importance to Sri Lanka at the 1948 Games of the XIXTH Olympiad held in London, as it was the year that Ceylon, as it was known then, obtained Independence from the British Empire. At these Games, Ceylon was blessed with an Olympic Silver medal won by White in the 400m Hurdles event, as a reward for this historical accomplishment of gaining Independence for the country.

White was a student of Trinity College, Kandy, where he received Trinity’s coveted ‘Lion’ even before gaining school ‘colours’ as a reward for his record breaking performances at the Public Schools Championships. He excelled in the 440 yards and the 400 metres Hurdles events. Upon leaving Trinity College (1937) he was commissioned to the Ceylon Light Infantry (1942).

The outstanding achievement at the 1948 Olympics prompted the Government to award White a scholarship to Loughborough University in London. At Loughborough he captained the University Team for three consecutive years. During this period the University was the British University Athletic Champions.

Volumes of stories and anecdotes have been written over the years about White’s spectacular Silver Medal win at the 1948 Olympics. Yet, not enough was written on his race in the 400m Hurdles in which he was beaten by Roy Cochran of the United States by only 7/10th of a second. While Cochran established an Olympic Games Record, White improved on it too by 2/10th of a second.

At the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand, White won Gold in the 440 yards Hurdles and was only 3/10th of a second outside the World Record.

Duncan was awarded the Member of the British Empire [MBE] in 1949 and the Helms World Trophy as the ‘Most Outstanding Athlete’ in Asia. In 1988, he was honoured with a commemorative Postage Stamp.

Cyril Gardiner, the then Chairman of Galle Face Hotel, adorned White’s name on a plaque at the entrance to the hotel as a distinguished guest. In 1991 Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa organised a Peace Relay Run from Vauniya to Colombo to celebrate the founding of the Foundation and Duncan White.

In 1996 Lakshman Kadirgamar initiated and obtained Dual Citizenship for Duncan and Angela White. On April 4, 1998 White was conferred the honour of a Deshamanya by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of his Silver Medal at the 1948 Olympic Games.

In 1963 White and his family left for Nigeria to join the University of Ibadan as a Senior Lecturer and at the end of his 12 year assignment he decided to reside in England. He was employed by the local Borough Council and retired in 1983. The same year he returned to Nigeria to take up a two year appointment as a Sports Adviser.

The Golden Jubilee of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka, was held in 1987 and the NOC invited the Whites as Special Guests while his alma mater accorded him a rousing reception when he visited Kandy.

In 1989 Milinda Moragoda, James Lanerolle (Civil Servant and former Minister Counsellor of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC) and the writer, met in DC to discuss which Sri Lankan (other than a politician), should be honoured and they saw no person better than Duncan White thus the Duncan White Sports Foundation (DWSF) was born. Major General Kobbekaduwa was also in DC at the time and endorsed this proposal while also being a great supporter of the project.

While approving the proposal by letter which was read by Kavan Rambukwelle at the inauguration of the Duncan White Sports Foundation on March 1, 1990 (White’s 72nd birthday). The inauguration was attended by a distinguished gathering of 27 persons from the Ministry of Sports, the Sri Lanka Armed Forces, the Sri Lanka Police,

Duncan White was born on March 1, 1918 at Lathpandura, near Badurueliya, in the Kalutara District. White married Angela Siebel and they had six children: Nita, Marylene, Fiona, Dan, Maxine and Chris

Media and the conveners – Kavan Rambukwelle, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Ken Balendra, Milinda Moragoda, James Lanerolle, Neville Abeygoonewardene, Charitha Ratwatte and P A Senaratne (Secretaries to the Ministry of Sports], Prema Pinnewela (NOC Secretary) and C Vijitha Fernando.

The DWSF Constitution that was adopted at the inaugural meeting was the entire efforts of Dr Srilal M Perera, Dr Sarala M Fernando and Ambassador Devinda R Subasinghe. The Duncan White Award was a gift by the Sri Lanka Association of Washington DC, USA.

In 1991, under Inland Revenue Act No: 28 of 1979, Notice under Section 31 [9][a], D B Wijetunga, Minister of Finance declared the Foundation an Approved Charity.

In 1992, Member of Parliament, C V Gooneratne introduced a Private Member’s Bill and steered it successfully through Parliament to incorporate the Foundation; Act No: 21 of 1992. White passed away on July 3, 1998 at the age of 80. With his passing, his Silver Medal victory has been permanently etched in the annals of sporting history of Sri Lanka.

As array of distinguished and prominent people were associated at the inaugural meeting and thereafter. The first President of the Foundation was Kavan Rambukwella (199094), while Ken Balendra (1994-98), Jennifer Moragoda (1998-2002) and Chrisantha Perera (2002-?) followed. The Foundation did not hold Annual General Meetings thereafter for several disturbing reasons.

Former presidents Ranasinghe Premadasa, D B Wijetunga and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunge, assisted the Foundation in numerous ways.

Distinguished persons in public business and private life were members of the Council of Trustees, the Committee of Delegates and the Board of Directors, serving from 1990 thru 2002, as Trustees, Delegates and Board members namely, Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Christopher White [Duncan’s son], Milinda Moragoda, Elmo Rajasooria, the Liaison Committee (Washington DC) was represented by C Vijitha Fernando, Ranjit Abeysuriya, Gwen Herat, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Stanley Unamboowe, Penny Jayewardene [Duncan’s niece], Sanjeev Gardiner, Ravi Fernando, Mitra Ariyasingha, W M Bandaranayaka, Imthiaz Cader, Brigadier C Nissanka Panabokke, Christopher De Saram, Summa Navaratne, Malik Samarawickreme, Rear Admiral Justin Jayasuriya, Brigadier Devinda Kalupahana, Brigadier B Munasinghe, Anton Wijeyegoonewardena, Nilani Fernando and Neville Abeygoonewardena served as Secretary to these Committees.

The DWSF Liaison Committee of Washington DC was represented by Trinitian, Mohamed V Muhsin (Chairman and former Vice President of the World Bank),dr Srilal M Perera, Ambassador Devinda R Subasinghe, Cecil M Perera and C Vijitha Fernando (Secretary) – All of the World Bank, and had the support of senior World Bank staff: Ambassador D A de Silva and David Loos.

The Liaison Committee of Australia was headed by Edward I Gray, who was a member of White’s team at the 1948 Olympic Games.

The Liaison Committee of Great Briton had as its Chairman Elmo Rajasooria and Trinitian Gamini Sumanasekera served as a member.

In Jennifer Moragoda’s Presidency, the Foundation recorded with great delight, enthusiasm and relief, the victory of another Olympic Medallist at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia when Susanthika Jayasinghe won a Bronze Medal in the Women’s 200m. This Olympic medal was won after a lapse of 52 years.

Friends of Foundation President Chrisantha Perera in Lancaster, California, USA, assisted Jayasinghe to obtain the services of a top notch Olympic coach in Tony Campbell. Moragoda even organised a Trust Fund for Jayasinghe which she went on to manage on her own.

Duncan White was indeed an extraordinary gentleman. Those who rallied to honour him were also distinguished and exceptional people. If they weren’t, White would not have enjoyed the recognition he deserved after more than five decades.