Home ⁄ Articles ⁄ SUSIL PERERA ACCOMPLISHED RENOWNED DRUMMER ,COMEDIAN CELEBRATED FOOTBALL PLAYER , SONS ISURU’S AND LAKALA’S APTITUDES IN FOOTBALL AND RUGBY REMINISCED – By Sunil Thenabadu
SUSIL PERERA ACCOMPLISHED RENOWNED DRUMMER ,COMEDIAN CELEBRATED FOOTBALL PLAYER , SONS ISURU’S AND LAKALA’S APTITUDES IN FOOTBALL AND RUGBY REMINISCED – By Sunil Thenabadu
A former resident of No 33 old Kandy Road Kelaniya born on 19th May 1946 as the youngest sibling in a family of five children Father was MMD Perera a Police Sergeant served the Police for 32 years, well know to all police personnel a very jovial person, mother a famous tower hall actress Wimala Kantha more famous as an exponent in Nurthi drama originated in Sri Lanka on 27th December 1877.It used the Proscenium stage of Italian renaissance .For three decades since it’s beginning ,Nurthi theatre used temporary playhouses constructed by the fanatics of Nurthi exponents themselves .The complete theatrical experience was given by the Tower Hall Theatre constructed in year 1911 The eldest sibling was Flori Devi who followed her mother’s footsteps. The next sibling is a musician Visharada Dharmasiri Perera Third was famous renowned vocalist Dr Sujatha Attanayake nee Perera, then Visharada Rajani Perera a renowned vocalist and an exponent of dancing served at Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya as the dancing educator at a time when there was a scarcity of dancing teachers as Sujatha had learnt their skills from the then Heywood musical school which is now the university of visual and performing arts. Susil is the last sibling renowned as a famous drummer and known to many as a typical comedian, which is a branch of drama that deals with everyday life and humorous events, all known to Susil knows well about his inimitable style.The entire family is related to music , it is learnt that before their marriages the five siblings they have had musical evenings at their humble dwelling ,Flori Devi playing the Harmonium. Sujatha the Sitar, Dharmasiri tubla and Susil Bongos while vocals was by Ranjani. The siblings had to perform like this when police officer father returned home after ‘a couple drinks’ to entertain him which he anticipated..
Reminiscing the past Susil when only a kid of seven years his mother actress Wimala Kantha had made him enter the art arena requesting him to act in films for comedy roles. When he was ten years Susil had collected empty tins from the garden had been striking with sticks to emanate sounds which father had protested for the noise saying there is no peace at home.This was observed by mother and elder sister Sujatha had bought him a Bongo set a famous “Edmundo Ros”. a very expensive, a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of small open bottomed hand drums. Susil has had no teacher says only his shadow was his guru via perhaps hereditary affiliations had developed his skills which he added recollecting his beginning. Thereafter elder sister Flori Devi had bought his first drum set containing only four parts Base drum, Snare, Hi hat, and symbol from Gampaha M/s MILTONS belonging to Billy Fernando’s grand father.It is from these four parts Susil had learnt to play drums. When he was just sixteen years had played drums in the orchestra for the live recording of ” Europaye Hima Wetena Thaleta” sung by Latha and Dharmadasa Walpola to the music melody and direction of R Muththusamy Thereafter he had played for many songs in a number of films which he cannot remember even the approximate numbers. Susil had contributed his drums contribution to many cassettes that too he cannot count the numbers. But during that time there was a demand for compact discs two songs on either side of the CD’s for which Susil had contributed drum parts profusely been in much demand. These were manufactured by establishments like Gowri Corporation, Sooriya Label etc.For each CD Susil was paid a meagre sum of Rs 15.For a day for four CD’s he used to be paid Rs 60 which was a huge sum then from which he stitched clothes watched films .entertaining friends and spent for other needs. He recollects that Rs 60 was equivalent to about Rs 60000 at present .
The first group he recollects playing drums was for a popular band then’ ‘Hummingbirds”.then in other western bands like’Maniacs’, ‘Sundown kids’ etc.The members of these bands were all prominent and capable musicians as Sunil Dharmasena, Earnest Zoysa,Upali Kannagara, Sarath de Alwis,Upendra Fernando,Keerthi Pasquel ,trumpet player who goes with MS Fernando Sebestian Fernando etc,In addition as a drummer Susil has been invited to play comedian roles in many films and teledramas to perform his natural witty aptitudes Susil as her elder sisters could sing very well has recorded many duets also is competent in singing Hindi songs well, while playing drums while in musical groups. Susil also is invited by musical groups to play drums for indoor and outdoor musical concerts.Susil recollects many enjoyable moments when attached to these musical groups. In addition Susil was a very talented football playing for the Saunders SC where he was seen always when he did not have musical events.After his marriage his ons Isuru and Lakala had inherited his sporting aptitudes.
Susil Married his long time partner Ruby Grace Alfonso in year 1975 at the Taj Samudra in a glittering ceremony. Incidentally the author of this article was his best man The duo is blessed with four children three sons and a daughter. Eldest son Isuru was born on 11th January 1976 daughter Punna Erandhi ( Doni) Sons Isuru, Lakala ,Maduka were educated at St.Peters College while daughter at Bishops College. Susil had excelled as a sportsman particularly in athletics and football having been a staunch member of Saunders SC but failed to be included in the national team.Isuru was adamant to play for the national football team Father Susil was Isuru’s first coach spent evenings dribbling the ball with him.Susil’s influence had helped Isuru to been able to join the Isuru’s skills were identified St.Peter’s College football team.Isuru had been a member of the U 12 football teams in College and at Sauders SC,.A friendly football match was arranged with Saunders under 12 The coach PD Sirisena had been impressed by Isuru’s talent. Having trained at Saunders SC Isuru was an automatic choice for the College U 19 football team when he was only 13 years old.He was an outstanding player been adjudicated as the best player in year 1993 and the man of the match in year 1994 at the big match versus St Josephs.As a school kid was a member of the national team from year 1994 to year 2004.Isuru had captained Sri Lanka at the World Cup in year 2004 at the qualifying rounds in Indonesia. Playing for Saunders SC had toured many countries had been a member of the national team at three world cups.Later Isuru became the football coach of his Alma Mater from 2015 to 2019.Isuru had also coached many clubs as Pelicans Sports Club Kurunegala,Kalutara Blue Stars and the assistant coach of the national U 19 team Since 1999 Isuru is attached to Petroleum Corporation married Dushani Rajapaksa in year 2006 blessed with a daughter and a son both studying in Lyceum International school..
Susil’s second son is Lakala Perera attached to Hatton National Bank as an Executive Officer Lakala has excelled as a ruggerite of repute and coach It is rare to find a rugby player who can play in several positions unless he is a highly skilled person. Lakala Perera was one of them who handled the rugby ball in various positions, after engaging in several sporting disciplines as a schoolboy and later turned out to be a scintillating rugby player and an excellent coach.
Lakala was born in 1981. He has three siblings with elder brother Isuru another Peterite . younger brother is Maduka another Peterite following the footsteps of his father as a musician. Lakala was admitted to St. Peter’s College, Colombo as a primary class student in 1987 and went on to complete his higher studies by 2000. From his younger days he was involved in sports. He then joined the school basketball team followed by the cricket, soccer and rugby teams. He captained the basketball under-17 team in 1998 and dribbled the football to annex the ‘Best Player’s award at the big match in 1999 against their traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. Getting into rugby was encouraged by one of his classmates Warren Peters, who was also a sportsman, who represented college in cricket and rugby.
He had started playing in the under-13 team in 1992 coached by B.K. Ramachandran. Continued playing in the under-15 team coached by Kelum Senaratne and Shantha Dharmaratne while the under-17 team was coached by Sunanda Fernando. He established a regular place in the College first XV Rugby team in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Due to his fine performance, he bagged the ‘Best players’ award in 1999. He further grabbed the College colours for basketball and rugby for his splendid performances. Gavin Ludowyke led the Peterites team in 1999 and lost to Ananda in the semi finals under the coaching of Cicero de Fonseka. The 2000 season was played under the captaincy of Gladwin Georgesz under the coaching of S.W.Chang where they went down to Kingswood in the semi finals of the schools knock-out tournament.
He played a dual role as fly half and at times as a scrum half most of his school career starting from junior rugby. However, in 2000, in his final year in school, his coach S. W. Chang advised him to swap position in the back line as a wing three quarter, if he intends to continue rugby up to a professional level, after noticing his ball handling skills. This bold move enabled him to represent Sri Lanka Rugby from 2001 to 2008 as a wing three quarter. He then opted to play for Havelock Sports Club which was also motivated by S.W. Chang. He locked horns for them from 2001 to 2005. With his participation there, he played a pivotal role in winning the under- 24 sevens and XV-a-side rugby in 2001 followed by the senior club sevens in 2001/02 seasons, where he was adjudged ‘Best Player’ of the tournament in 2002. In 2003, the Park Club won the President’s Trophy Knockout Tournament under Shafi Hassan’s captaincy. Sanjeewa Jayasinghe was his first captain in 2001 and went on to play under Rajiv Sornaratne in 2002, under Miskin Deen in 2004, under Rajiv Ganapathy in 2005 respectively. Subsequently, he was stricken by an injury to his hand in 2006 which sidelined him the whole season.
Soon after recovery in 2007, he decided to change clubs and scrum down with CH and FC. In 2007, he played under Dilanka Wijesekera, in 2008 under Jayantha Ranaweera, and in 2009 under Achala Perera, in 2010 under Dinesh Sanjeewa and finally in 2011, he was entrusted to lead the Gymkhana Club to end his illustrious club rugby career which spanned over a decade. Tony Amit was his coach at CH and FC.He got the National call to represent the sevens team in 2001 onwards playing in the Singer Sri Lankan Tournament from 2001 to 2004. He also was a member of the Sri Lanka team at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2002,2003 and 2008 while playing in the Dubai International Sevens in 2001,2002 and 2003, where he was instrumental in scoring tries against Kenya, France and in South Africa sevens in 2003. He also took part in Asian Games in 2002 and Commonwealth Games the same year. His XV-a-side representation with the National side was at the Asian Games in Korea in 2002 and the Rugby Asiad held in Sri Lanka in 2007, where he scored four tries in the tournament. He was awarded the National Sporting Honours for Rugby in 2008 by the National Sports Council. He also played in the Mercantile Sevens and later received the award for the Best player in the final in 2002.
His wife is Annaliza Jayasekara who is an architect by profession and the two children are son Javin schooling at St.Peter’s and daughter Leah. He has been working for Hatton National Bank since 2002 up to date. He is serving as an assistant coach for Havelock Sports Club from 2018 up to date.
Susil is happy about the positions his children are.He and wife dwell with daughter Erandhi in her dwelling at Waragoda Kelaniya.When some one asks how he spends his day he always says ‘I am going to boutique for children and grand children in his witty traditions He is now a septuagenarian lives happily at Erandhi’s dwelling with wife Ruby Grace in their twilight years All friends and relations would wish the duo longevity and good health.
Just before you leave, we at eLanka want to ensure we can keep you up-to-date with all good news stories about Sri Lankan Expats in Australia and Globally as well as other relevant news about Sri Lanka. So, if you wish to receive our Newsletter twice a week, then please fill in your Name & Email in this form. Thank you!
A former resident of No 33 old Kandy Road Kelaniya born on 19th May 1946 as the youngest sibling in a family of five children Father was MMD Perera a Police Sergeant served the Police for 32 years, well know to all police personnel a very jovial person, mother a famous tower hall actress Wimala Kantha more famous as an exponent in Nurthi drama originated in Sri Lanka on 27th December 1877.It used the Proscenium stage of Italian renaissance .For three decades since it’s beginning ,Nurthi theatre used temporary playhouses constructed by the fanatics of Nurthi exponents themselves .The complete theatrical experience was given by the Tower Hall Theatre constructed in year 1911 The eldest sibling was Flori Devi who followed her mother’s footsteps. The next sibling is a musician Visharada Dharmasiri Perera Third was famous renowned vocalist Dr Sujatha Attanayake nee Perera, then Visharada Rajani Perera a renowned vocalist and an exponent of dancing served at Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya as the dancing educator at a time when there was a scarcity of dancing teachers as Sujatha had learnt their skills from the then Heywood musical school which is now the university of visual and performing arts. Susil is the last sibling renowned as a famous drummer and known to many as a typical comedian, which is a branch of drama that deals with everyday life and humorous events, all known to Susil knows well about his inimitable style.The entire family is related to music , it is learnt that before their marriages the five siblings they have had musical evenings at their humble dwelling ,Flori Devi playing the Harmonium. Sujatha the Sitar, Dharmasiri tubla and Susil Bongos while vocals was by Ranjani. The siblings had to perform like this when police officer father returned home after ‘a couple drinks’ to entertain him which he anticipated..
