The Golden Era of Basketball in Batticaloa
Basketball was unknown in Batticaloa till the arrival of the American Jesuits who replaced the French Jesuit during the year nineteen forties. In fact it was Rev. Father Hamilton, an early arrival to Batticaloa from the US, who installed the first basket in the quadrangle of St. Michael’s College.
The basket was fitted to one side of the Science Lab and he with some other Jesuits and interested students attempted to basket the ball. With the arrival of Father Ralph Riemen S.J. another American Jesuit in the fifties, basketball took off the ground. Having obtained some unserviceable railway tracks, Father Riemen constructed the first basketball court at St. Michael’s College.
The students picked up the game fast and by the sixties St. Michael’s emerged champions at several national championships. After Father Riemen’s departure to Kalkudah Estate, Fr. Joe Nee S.J, another American Jesuit, took over the task of coaching the college team, It was during this period that both Fr. Nee of St. Michael’s and Fr. Herbert of St.joseph’s Trincomalee that the traditional rivalry between St. Michael’s and St. Joseph’s reached peak rivalry since St. Joseph’s Trinco coached by Fr. Herbert emerged Public Schools Champions. There after Father Weber, the athletic coach and Rajan Nadarajah took over the task of coaching the school team. To the credit of Rajan Nadarajah the team he coached became the junior national champions in the late sixties.
In 1971 Rev. Fr. Eugene Herbert SJ was transferred to St. Michael’s from St. Joseph’s Trincomalee. With his arrival basketball was his priority. He would spend hours coaching the under l3, under 15, under 17 and under 19 teams of the college. It was during this period that St. Michael’s clinched the school national championships in several age groups.
The years 1971 to 1990 were the golden era of basketball under the guidance of Fr. Herbert. He would travel with the team, reside with them and even eat with them. At no stage would he allow the team to be alone. He was the architect of successes of both the College team and the District team when they won the Junior Nationals on six occasions and three consecutive years – 1986,87 and 88 which no other team had achieved so far. If he observed any discrimination by the referee where his team played he would fight tooth and nail to correct the injustice. His early tragic demise was a severe loss to basketball and St. Michael’s.
At this critical period the responsibility fell squarely on the shoulder of Rajan Nadarajah in the absence of any priests in the caliber of Fr. Hebert Rajan who accepted this great task with courage and determination and continued the good work by winning several school championships in the years 1992,93,94,95 and 96. By 1995, Mr. Viren Saravanamuttu was assigned the post of PTI at St. Michael’s. Being a national player, he took over the coaching assignment of the seniors whilst Rajan continued coaching the under 13 team and through his initiative Mr. Mounacurusamy, the then G.A released funds for the construction of this stadium. With Viren taking over the coaching there were victories for the college teams of all groups.
They won the school championships conducted by the Dept. of Education and championships conducted by the Sri Lanka School Basketball Association.
By this time Rev. Father Paul Satkunanayagam S.J. had assumed duties as President of the Batticaloa District Basketball Association and another Jesuit continued his contribution to basketball.
It is to his credit that several tournaments such as Weber Cup, Herbert Cup were worked out in Batticaloa with several teams from the province participating. He was responsible for obtaining the services of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation to conduct coaching camps for both boys and girls from the age of 13 and above. Having served the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation as its President from 1994 to 1998 and Senior Vice President since then to date, I am proud to record the contribution the Jesuit teachers and students of St. Michael’s College have made towards the game.
The writer Ignatius Canagaretnam is also a former President of the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation.
I can clearly remember from 1961 it was an era basket ball was only played at St Michaels and there were some very good players and very often tournaments were held.Batticaloa should be thankful to Father WEBBER.Those were memorable days.
True !! well said by the the Writer
Dear Mr I.T Canagaretnam
I read ur article and i am so proud to be a part of the nadarajah family and you are the only one who knows the facts of basketball at st.michels .my dad brought honour to st michaels by winning the very first Junior national in 1967. principal Rev.Fr P.N.pearis S.J declared a school holiday for the first time in history.
i am glad that you have brought that to public notice .i wish to remind you that in future articles please mention that only three family members represented st michaels and they are Balthezar, Nadarajah,and Johnpillais. once again i ma proud to be the son Mr.Rajan Nadarajah .
may god bless u
Even though it is a small article, it has covered many factors related to the caption “The Golden Era of Basketball in Batticaloa”. The writer should have given more prominency to Late Rev.Fr.Herbert as he is the one who made Batticaloa as the Basketball city of Sri Lanka.
In addition to Balthazaar, Nadarajah and Johnpillai brothers, Tisseverasinghe, Jospeh(Elmo/Ferdie/Bonny), Joseph(Daniel/Maurice/Norman/Dunstan/Felix and Godwin), Devarajah(Ranjan/Lal and Angelo), De Silva(Iyya and Malli), Mariaselvam brothers, Jude and James Namasivayam and maybe more in the 90′s also need to be noted. Also, there were few others who represented Junior and Senior teams of Sri Lanka. Few I can remember are, Bharatha Vaz, Srithar Thiagarajah, Malcolm De Lima, Dr.Dilakkumar(I am sure I missed few).
I remember talking to Priya Cooray who captained the Sri Lankan schools basketball team in 1979/80 and he told me that the entire first five of then St.Michael’s senior team should have been the first five to play for Sri Lanka. The team in 1979/80 was captained by Pious and the players were, Ravi Konesh, Viren, Aravinthan, Mariaselvam, Elmo……
Hope and pray that the Golden Era of Basketball in Batticaloa will comeback again.
Good article. I like to add Malcolm De Lima who also coached St.Michael’s after the demise of Fr.Herbert and produced winning teams. According to the article, St.Michael’s is not doing well from 1996. Fr.Herbert was killed in 1990 and I guess the teams groomed by him did well till 1996. We can see the downfall after that. In the recent past, St.Michael’s is not even getting qualified to play in the 1st division.
They play in the 2nd division and still not doing well. I assume that there is something wrong with the coach and the old boys need to act fast before basketball dissappear from St.Michael’s. Thank you
Sam I I agree with what you said but as you said after 1996 up to 2002 I have 5 championship tittle. We started the basketball journey since 1991. As you said, my dad Rajan Nadarajah brought the team from the scratch and he maid 7 championship titles by his own but now the coaches are not willing to train a team from age 10 every one thinks now its a government school and not taking interest. But now basketball is almost dead. Last Herbert tournament was won by Colombo why? What is the reason can any one raise this question. I have raised it couple of times and the answer was “St. Michael’s College is a government school we can’t do anything” I hope you understand and help to let St. Michaels Flag fly high.
Well said lucky and Sam. I don’t think that you guys are in Batti and you haven’t been to Batticaloa for a long time I know Rajan Nadarajah was the first person to beat fr.herbet team in trincomalee. That the time fr. Herbert wants to come to st.michaels. As you said my son dilo plaid since 1991 I think his son was there to he brought all the teams from scratch since 1991 and had several championship after that. I think more that 12 to 15. I know him very well not only that the credit also goes to London branch jothy was the one who funded Rajan Nadarajah to produce the finest teams and players.
Celebrities have to touch every social class of the sotciey. If they wish to gain something from some certain people then they have to go with their style. So private parties for the elite class, charity matches for common fans. No Worries.
How to get in touch with you ignatius t. canagaretnam
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