THE STORY BEHIND THE GLORY

the story behind the victory of University of Moratuwa Rowing team in the Inter University Regatta (Sri Lanka) 2008 after loosing four consecutive years....

In the last six years of my life in the Mora rowing team (26-09-2002 to 08-11-2008) went through various moments and time periods, with joy, sorrow everything…but Saturday the 8^th of November, has entered to the history as the happiest day of my life. I think it will be the happiest day of the life of most of the guys of the Mora rowing family. It's not only we beat Colombo crew after four years, it was the day that we have seen the results of our hard work and dedication.

I still can remember the days that we have been thinking about the races that we have lost in fractions of seconds. Every year we went to Beire Lake with full of hopes and coming back with great pain in our hearts…..

We thought that we had the best ever "a" four last year (2007). Because we went for timings in 3.30s. But at the race we lost to the Colombo "a" four by ¼ th of a second. Regatta was ended with giving us another lost (for the fourth consecutive time).

When we (the office bearers) are starting the training for 2008 got a very new bunch of people. Most of the people has never been seen a regatta. We knew that we want some new strategies to turn it around this time.

After the idea from Kitta of finding an obstacle course inside the campus, Kitts and I went throughout the campus to find the ideal locations and paths for it. I still can remember the people of our batch said that the first gay couple is going to Kaju Kele, after seen Kitta and me going there…

When the three senior members coming to the university after their training period they had a bunch of new guys who are way up in fitness levels than them. That make them work so hard to catch-up the level of fitness of the juniors. That motivates all the people in the crew. We have started achieving our target step by step.

Rana and Gala

surprised every one of other institutes by winning the second place in the rowing novices.Shode and Mola won the RCYC pair title for the first time in the university history.( I think it was always own by a "pair" from royal collage or STC, from the first year that has been awarded.) in HMS fours the junior guys has performed very well in their fours, though they were in mixed crews. In the Joes regatta, we won gold medal and a bronze medal by Mola and Ara. Ranfer sprints and the Centenary oars are the regattas that we have not been performed up to the standards. We have made the ' Bolgoda regatta" totally ours by not only organizing it, but becoming the best performing team in the regatta. Ara and Ashika won the gold medal of the open double scull event and some more medals and very good performances by everyone who has participated for the event by the Mora crew. Then the nationals.... though most of the crew members had their exams in those days, they have been courage enough to participate for the events. Exams in the morning and regatta in the evening. We have in the nationals as never before. Ara and Ashika gave the first national gold medal of the university history (pls correct me if I am wrong). We came back to the university with some more silver and bronze medals...almost everyone of the crew have won a medal on that day....

still we have the biggest target, even though we have performed very well in all the other regattas, the pride of all remains on the inter uni regatta. The inter uni regatta. Shuffling the fours, pair and scull races, course downs, everything was there. So many surprises happened. The biggest thing was the "a" pair, the shortest guy in our team get together with the tallest guy in the team and beat all the other pairs. The major shock that we have faced is losing Mola from the team. It has effected all the members because we loosing the best oarsmen in our team. So many shuffling were done to fill his place. in the end we went through on it. Found the correct replacement for Mola. We are confident enough now to beat Colombo.

On the day before the regatta, there was an article in the daily mirror saying

"Colombo university to make it five in a row"..... Hu!!.... That was the funniest thing we ever heard. We have laughed (not only from our mouths)....everyone is confident enough to beat them.

We didn't have a pressure on the regatta day. As usually we met at the bus (Wala) and had the lunch. When we come to CRC in white short, white shirt and in the blazer, we were expecting a smartly dressed Colombo crew to welcome us.(because they are the organizers this time) but only their ladies captain and mens' captain came in a short and a t-shirt.

When Ara won the "a" scull as the first event we were thrilled. We took the start....When Ara's mother came and give him a hug after the race I knew everything is on our way. I can still remember Yenu's mother hugged him after he won the first scull race in the victorious 2003 regatta. (History is repeating). Ashika cleared all the doubt in our mind about him by winning the "b" scull. What a race from our captain and vice captain in the "b" pair. After the race I have got the confirmation twice from the lawn umpire about who won the race because it was an amazing come back at the "take a home' from our guys. After the 'a' pair and the "b' four won by the Colombo crew, it has become the race of life for the "a" four. They did their job.... after four years curse we won it back... the happiest moment in my life.

There are so many people who have shares in our glory.

The past oarsmen and oarswomen who have helped us through out the year from the donations, comments and wishes. it was a great strength to us. thank you Amila ayya, Suranga ayya, Heminda ayya, Nuwan ayya, Samitha, Dilan, Sabry, Vajira, Kure(from the NDT batch),prabath and all the others(i forgot to mention the names) who came to watch the regatta and cheered for Mora crew. Thanks DC ayya for your great support that you have given (and giving) to the crew though you are so far away from us…The encouraging words… coordinating the past oarsmen.. etc.. Bhathiya ayya,Harsha ayya,Dushan,Nishal and everyone else who were in touch of us for the whole year.

We have to thank very specially to

Kitta, Bappa, Lahiru, Praveen and Sudeera (the last years crew members) for the great support that you have given for us. Kitta, the work you have done to make the team a better one is great, the obstacle races, team meetings, taking care for the crew members when they were in trouble and even helping with their personal problems had very much effected on the power of our team. The phone calls and emails that you have send in the last few months was a moral boosters fro us. Bappa, Lahiru, Praveen and Sudeera, thank you for the experiences that you guys have shared with us. Coming in the morning to CRC, on Sundays and even on the way office... it was amazing.

i would like to thank for the help that we got from our physical education department too.. Especially to

Mr. Rathnamudali and Mr. Laksman Wijesooriya. Arranging buses for us to go for the regattas, taking permission to practice in the university when it has been closed, always looking after the needs of the crew and for all the other support that you have given.

Harini

and the ladies team for the spirit of the Mora rowing family.... when Colombo refused to row in the inter uni if there is no ladies team from us in few months back, we didn't had any option, but relying on you. Finding some girls to form a team and preparing them to row in a regatta in about three weeks time, and rowing for the support of the victory…. Thanks Varuni for coming to row even at the last minute, after having two or three sleepless nights because of academic submissions. We will not get those qualities from anyone else but from our own sisters. Thank you, Piyumi, Dimuthu,Harendra, Kumari and Varuni for the support that you have given to us with Harini.

The owners of our victory… Mark and Mahil…

I don't have words to explain the support, motivation, courage, skills, training and everything that you have given. The force behind to change the attitudes of others on university rowing is you two. The Mora crew has became a very much improved team in skills, strength, discipline and even in the outfits, because of you. The bravest and crucial decisions making at the correct time has shown us your maturity on coaching. As an example, when a bow from the "c" four has replaced to a stroke of the "a" four before two weeks to go to the regatta, every one of us had doubts in our mind. But you have succeeded... both of you were not only coaches for us, you guys stood up as the elder brothers of our crew. When it become to the crucial "a' four race, when everyone is nervous, … sitting on the lawn without watching the race till the last few meters with nervous face(the videos tell them all)…that showed how much our team mean to you… I know your eyes also filled with the tears of joy (even they were covered with Shades). THANK YOU SO MUCH BROTHERS, WHO HAVE NOT ONLY TAUGHT US ROWING, MOST OF THE LESSONS TO OUR LIFE TOO…………

All the members of the crew…the thirst to the victory that you had with you was amazing. Going through the toughest practice sessions, making your bodies hurt so much, exceeding the limits that you think your body can achieve, leaving back the times that you can spend your family members or girl friend, with various personal matters but not interfering them for rowing, it was great……

Shode

… you are the luckiest person on earth that day…. As the captain… at the "a" four…which is giving the decision of the regatta…leading to the victory by winning it…..that is a dream which very few people can make to a reality( I have seen it only in films).

Shode, Oscar, Mola and Kahawala

…….We did it…. We have made the best ever rowing team that university of Moratuwa had. (I think no team had performed this much in all the regattas throughout the year) with the help of all….

Ara and the crew

… now it's time for you…. Let's win regatta by regatta next time... Now we know that we can do it… we will not another loosing team in the rowing community anymore... the secret is…

"ROW HARD, NO EXCUSES"

Dananjaya Bandara

Secretary 2008 (On behalf of the office bearers of 2008 crew)

The founder of Bolgoda Regatta and the initiator of 2K rowing in Sri Lanka

 

 

 

Deshamannya, Vidya-Jyothi Dr. Ray Wijewardene

The founder of Bolgoda Regatta and the initiator of 2K rowing in Sri Lanka.

 

He is one of the most sensible and down to earth scientists Sri Lanka has ever produced
Dr. Philip Revatha (Ray) Wijewardene, was an proficient engineer, aviator, inventor,
Olympian and a public intellectual of the highest caliber. Were being a Thomian and
a scholar of Cambridge (UK) his accomplishments in the specialty of engineering are
almost incomparable among his countrymen.

Young Ray graduated in Aviation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural
Engineering. He has also fortified his erudition with a Master's degree in Business
Administration from the prestigious Harvard Business School. He was conferred the
title of Vidya-Jyothi in 1988 and an Honorary Fellowship of Silsoe College, University of
Cranfield (UK) in 1994 and a honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the University of
Moratuwa in 1994 in recognition of his contributions to Science and Technology.

He may be described as a Scientist and Agricultural Engineer whose vision is focused
several decades into the future. Among his foremost engineering marvels is the world's
first two wheeled tractor- the Landmaster. The innovative thinking of Dr.Wijewardene
continued and his services were much in demand both in Sri Lanka and abroad. He
served in the posts of Head of Agricultural Engineering in Malaysia and Nigeria in
nineteen seventies.

Back in Sri Lanka he served in the Tea Research Board as Chairman, and also as a
member, Mahaweli Authority, Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Research
Board, Presidential Task Force on Science and Technology, and Arthur C. Clarke Centre
for Modern Technologies. Dr.Ray Wijewardene was the successor of Sir Arthur C. Clarke,
in the post of Chancellor, University of Moratuwa from year 2002.

His hobbies included designing and making aircraft. The Kitfox was Ray’s greatest
creation. The manqué is now 25 years old and very popular all over the world. Dr.Ray
was a person who brought fame to the country through his diverse talents and interests
and did immense services.

Though, this article can be continue up to several pages with the achievements,
inventions etc about “RAY-The Academic”, now it’s time for me to reveal the most
inspiring and unknown stories which are lying in the character of “RAY-The Sportsman”.

Being an Olympian (in Yachting) in 1968 Mexico Olympics and winning the Silver medal
in 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok (in Yachting with Ekendra Edirisinghe) are the highlights
of his career in sports. Rowing, Water Polo, Kayaking were few other water sports that
he has done apart from Yachting. He could have been Sri Lanka’s first Rowing Blue, by
rowing in the Cambridge University Crew in the famous Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race
but unfortunately due to an accident just prior to the Race, he was out of the selection.
Even most of the people pass their middle age, loses the interest of active participation
in sports, Dr. Ray never thought it was the time to stop. Once he expressed to us in one
of our meetings with him, about the interest on Bungee jumping and Parachute Jumping
two of most adventurous events a man can do. He was at his eighties at that time.

Dr. Ray was the number one enthusiast of the University of Moratuwa sports when he
was holding the post of Chancellor of the University. He was among the spectators in
any sports event whenever he can, to appreciate the performances of sportsmen.

Rowing was one of his most favorite sports when he was the Chancellor of the
University, where he has fed with ideas, guidance, motivating and also by financing.
His innovative thoughts were the foundation in the present huge advancement of Sri
Lankan Rowing which was only fortified in 1000m course in Beira Lake at that time.

The idea about a regatta in a 2000m (2K) course, for the first time in Sri Lanka, when
everyone else is not even thought about, was an idea that only comes to a person like
him, who is always, be an innovator. He had huge ideas about 2000m rowing in Sri
Lanka and about the opportunities of advancing the standards of Rowing in Sri Lanka
with the help of it.

The first Bolgoda Regatta of 2003(Bolgoda Scull Regatta 2003) which has been started
by the University of Moratuwa rowing team under the guidance by Dr.Ray, was the
first ever regatta in a 2000m course (international distance) in Sri Lanka. His personal
involvement in finding sponsors, venues, boat transportation and many other related
activities was a great strength for the Mora Oarsmen who had involved in organizing
the Bolgoda regatta in its inception years. Once when the organizing committee of
Bolgoda Regatta was in a big trouble at the last moment when one of the venue owners
requested for a huge fee to hold the event at his premises, Dr.Ray has personally paid
that amount to him. It was one of the valuable mediations of Dr.Ray in advancement of
the Bolgoda Regatta.

He has not only become the initiator of 2000m rowing in Sri Lanka, after that historical
event in 2003 but also became the pioneer of taking the first step to extend Rowing
out of Colombo.

This step has been advanced up to the first ever international regatta in Sri Lanka,
The South Asian Games 2006 Rowing event which was held at the same venue with
the technical facilitation of University of Moratuwa Rowing team, which has given the
opportunity to watch the National Teams of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka
competing in Bolgoda. He was there to witness his idea became a reality and watched
the regatta for hours in immense interest even though many of the spectators and
participants were not known who he was. In his message in the Souvenir of Bolgoda
Regatta 2007,had expressed his feeling as “As a very keen national oarsman, myself, I
am very pleased to extend every support to the oarsmen of Moratuwa university for
this, their fourth annual regatta to be held over what has since become the only truly
successful and international level rowing course (2000 meters) in Sri Lanka…” In present
this is the venue for the Sri Lanka National Rowing Championship and so many other
national and international level regattas.

This gentleman didn’t had any hesitation in guiding the Mora Oarsmen towards the
advancement of rowing in Sri Lanka, who has conducted number of discussions at his
place with the oarsmen, past oarsmen, coaches and even the academic staff members
of the university even in his last few years of life. His presence as a spectator or as a
guest in almost all the Bolgoda Regattas, Inter University Regattas and other sports
events were great strength and honor to both the organizers and the participants.

He was humble enough to reply to almost all the emails that we are sending to him
regarding rowing. He always had the time to give his comments, ideas and guidance to
us, to encourage us in bad periods and also to greet us in our achievements in rowing.

It is a great honor to mention about this great academic, Olympian, inventor, aviator,
patriot, sportsman and the simple man, named Dr.Ray Wijewardena in the 8th Bolgoda
Regatta souvenir, where without him this event and 2K rowing in Sri Lanka will not be a
reality.

 

Dananjaya Bandara
University of Moratuwa Rowing Team (2002-2008)

Source(s): Bolgoda Scull Regatta 2003 Souvenir, www.wikipedia.com, www.mrt.ac.lk,
Newspaper Articles (S. Thomas' College Old Boys' Forum)- Philip Rayvatha (Ray) Wijewardene,
Ray: The last Renaissance man, Memories of our flying days, Old pilots never die, they go to a
new plane, Not a plain man by a long shot.