07/16/2012       

Situated off the southern coast of India and until 1972 known as Ceylon, cricket is the country’s most leading sport with volleyball, rugby union, football, athletics, tennis and aquatic sports also being popular.

Now, that to the efforts of the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka and in particular the tireless work of Chandana Perera, table tennis can now be added to the list.

Unquestionably, he is the driving force and has embraced the initiatives of both the ITTF Development and the ITTF Hopes Programmes.

Increasing players from Sri Lanka are competing on the international scene; the cadet and junior players in particular being impressive.

Goal
Furthering table tennis is his avowed goal whether it be exploring new pastures of renovating the past.

Decline
It was the latter in which he has been involved most recently.

Chandana Perera is an old boy of St John's College Nugegoda, an educational establishment where table tennis thrived between 1979 and 1995 but unfortunately has since declined somewhat.

Elected President
Elected President of the Old Boys’ Association, Chandana Perera seized the initiative to contact former students who played table tennis; the result was that funds were raised and a table tennis table purchased.

Presentation
The table was presented recently to Major D A D Wanaguru, the Principal of St John's College Nugegoda.

Members of the St John's College Nugegoda Old Boys’ Association with Chandana Perera (3rd from left)
and Major D A D Wanaguru (5th from left) at the ceremony for the presentation of the table tennis table;
Miss Amali Perera (far right) is the teacher who will be responsible for the organisation of table tennis.
Photo courtesy of Chandana Perera