Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Neil's cherished Basketball dream

- By Lakshman Ranasinghe

Neil Perera a keen sportsman and promoter, with the intention to serve sports retired from the Mercantile Services and embarked another mission. Now Neil is looking at promoting his pet subject -Basketball at the MCA Complex.

Neil, who excelled in Cricket and Basketball for St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa in the early sixties, became the President of the Mercantile Cricket Associatio­n (MCA) in 2008 representi­ng David Pieris Motor Co. and then he went on to become the President of the Masters Basketball Sri Lanka (MBSL) in 2014.

Neil Perera orchestrat­ed the constructi­on and completion of the MCA floodlit Basketball Court in 2007.

Neil fulfilled another ambition in his sports carrier, when he inaugurate­d a Junior Basketball Coaching Academy at the MCA Courts last Saturday.

Perera, a vigilant and honest administra­tor has got the services of Jayantha Karunaratn­e and Jeevanie Wijeratne to assist him with the Coaching.

Karunaratn­e was an ex-national basketball player and selector, who represente­d Sri Lanka Police, a FIBA Referee and former President of the Mercantile Services Basketball Associatio­n.

Jeevani Wijeratne, too was a former national basketball player, currently following a diploma course in sports science and she has undergone an advanced training course in sports in Malaysia recently.

Coaching classes limited for Boys and Girls between 8 to 15

 ??  ?? The opening day of Niel's Junior Basketball Academy - Pix by Ranjith Perera
The opening day of Niel's Junior Basketball Academy - Pix by Ranjith Perera

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