The Mascots tour their former ‘homeland’ Ex-planters of the Maskeliya/Upcot District revive fading

The Mascots visit to their former “home” – the plantation district of Maskeliya/Upcot – on the 22nd and 23rd February 2014 was a resounding success.
After “morning muster” at Lanka Commodity Brokers in Rajagiriya, a group of 42 members and their wives departed on this historic journey.

While Manik Pereira, Ravi Wickramasingha, Lucky Ratnaweera, Gnana Samaratunga, Sarath Sirisena, Chandana Jayasekera, Dushy Perera, Sarath Jayasekera, Ashley Fonseka, Maithri Liyanage and Jayantha Dassanayake were accompanied by their wives, Devaka Wickramasuriya, Winston Rupasinghe, Randy Mcleod, Harin de Costa, Kingsley Candappa, S. Srikumar, Tilak Ratwatte, Dilanjan Soysa, N, Durairaj (who had travelled from Canada to participate), Dushantha Delwita, Upali Wijesekera, Manukula Fonseka, Ranjit Perera, Manoj Pathiraja, Suresh Mathangaweera and Thilanka de Zoysa chose to travel single. Mr. & Mrs. M. Balendran of Kelaneiya / Braemore fame joined the group at Maskeliya.

After a sumptuous breakfast at Kitulgala Rest House, the group arrived at the famous Maskeliya Club (established in 1899) to be warmly welcomed by the planters of the district.  






Although the majority of The Mascots had worked on these properties a very long time ago, they were remembered and welcomed by the staff and workers with much affection


The events commenced with a cricket match against the “Future Mascots”, a team comprising of planters of the district. The Mascots team was led by Ashley Fonseka (due to Sarath Sirisena of Royal College cricketing fame having got cold feet at the last moment) while the captain of the “Future Mascots” team was Hemantha Kahatapitiya.  

The Mascots opening pair of Manik Pereira and Gnana Samaratunga displayed skills similar to those of that great West Indian opening pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes. In a nail biting encounter, The Mascots lost by a few runs purely due to the age and fitness of their opponents and the fading light; definitely not due to the lack of cricketing skills.

It was wonderful seeing Ashley Fonseka, Manik Periera, Gnana Samaratunga and a host of other “golden oldies” displaying their inherent cricketing skills. With their performances being of such excellence, there is a danger of The Mascots having to re-classify these members as overseas members as the IPL and other cricketing franchises throughout the world that would, in all probability, be interested in obtaining their services!

Kingsley Candappa who was called upon to perform the duties of “runner” for Manik Pereira (who was reserving his energy for the evening) could not find a bat resulting in Manik’s dear wife Louise lending her walking stick to be used as a bat by “runner” Kingsley.

The gala dinner at the Maskeliya Club on 22nd February 2014 was a night which would never be forgotten.  The camaraderie that prevailed and the nostalgic stories related were unbelievable.  Partying went on till the wee hours of the morning of the 23rd in the true tradition of events of this nature in the district with Chandana Jayasekera’s vocal prowess being displayed to the hilt.

On Sunday, 23rd February, members who had been billeted on the estates they had worked on previously, were taken around the properties by their respective hosts.  Although the majority of The Mascots had worked on these properties a very long time ago, they were remembered and welcomed by the staff and workers with much affection–a clear indication of the great contribution these members made on these estates.

The visit to the Darrawella Club also on 23rd February was a nostalgic occasion.  The majority of The Mascots had represented the club in various sports and quite some time was spent in viewing the many team photographs which adorn the walls of this beautiful club.

Meeting The Mascots and learning first-hand how they lived, worked and played in this great district was a unique experience for the incumbent managers of estates and their assistants. The camaraderie and good-will that was created resulted in it being decided that very close ties be established between The Mascots and planters of Maskeliya/Upcot, through an annual visit to the district by The Mascots in the future and The Mascots inviting the planters for all other events arranged for by them.

Members of The Mascots together with their wives were unanimous in endorsing the proposals of both Manik Pereira and Winston Rupasinghe of their great appreciation and admiration for the manner in which their President, Devaka Wickramasuriya, who was the architect of this historic trip, single-handedly made all arrangements and the very able manner in which M. Balendran, Nalaka Withanage, Asanka de Tissera, Seevali Mudannayake and Hemantha Kahatapitiya co-ordinated all activities that made the event a great success.