Great sportsman of Mahinda College

It is little over three months since the passing away of Neil de Silva at the age of 85 years. It is with profound sadness I pen these lines about my former classmate.

From his earliest days at school it was clear that Neil had extraordinary sporting ability. He was one of the most distinguished sportsmen Mahinda College Galle had produced. He was the Captain of Cricket, soccer and athletics teams and sergeant of the senior cadet platoon.

In 1942 he captained the under 14 cricket team and was a member of the college cricket team in 1946 and continued to play for Mahinda till 1950. His good performances as a fast bowler, helped him to be selected for the Combined Colleges side. He was the only outstation cricketer selected to play against the visiting mighty West Indian team. He had the best bowling figures for a school side, capturing four wickets. He was rewarded for this performance by being selected as the 12th man on the National side for the 2nd Test match against Pakistan.

In one afternoon at the Southern Athletic meet he was able to establish three new records in Long Jump, High Jump and Triple Jump. At the Public Schools meet, Neil won the Triple Jump event and was placed 2nd in the Long Jump and 4th in High Jump.

It is appropriate to quote an extract from the magazine “Centenary of Memories” which states:

Neil is one of the few Mahindians who continued his athletics career after he left school; and with what distinction! In 1953 he won the Triple Jump event at the National Championships and was a member of the Ace A C. team to India for the Madras State Olympic Games. He was the only member of the Sri Lanka team to win 2 events, the Triple Jump and the Long Jump at that meet. Then, in 1954, he established a new Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) record in winning the Triple Jump even at the National Championship. In 1958 he bettered his own record in the same event with a distance of 47’ 73/4"; for this performance he was awarded the Wilton Bartlet Trophy for the Best Athlete in the field events.

In the same year, he had the distinction of being selected as the Captain of the Ceylon Amateur Athletic Association team to India for the first triangular contest between Madras, Mysore and Ceylon. His team won the championship that year and he himself won the Triple Jump event. The range and depth of his extraordinary sporting prowess is illustrated by the fact that in the same year, he was the Captain of the Saracens Sports Club in the Daily News Trophy Cricket competition! It is little wonder that the cups,shields and trophies he has won fill an entire cupboard at his mother’s house.”

After leaving school in 1950, he joined a leading British company as an executive. He was in New York for 20 years attached to a well known brokering firm, before returning to Sri Lanka few years ago. He was a Sub-Lieutenant in the Ceylon Navy and was cremated with Military honours.

While in school he won the affection of his teachers, as well as that of fellow students. As a sportsman he brought credit to Mahinda College and to the Southern Province.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.