Gamini my friend

By Nuski Mohamed

Gamini was my mentor and friend. My first interaction with him was in 1969 at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka, when he was a lecturer in Company Law. Since then, we have been in close touch in terms of politics, cricket and corporate management.   

In 1981 when Gamini was elected the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, I was the Treasurer. That was the year we famously became a Full Member of the International Cricket Council. Gamini’s leadership and the role he played towards Sri Lanka obtaining Full Membership is only too well-known and need not be elaborated upon. 

The following year, I was elected as Secretary of SLC and worked alongside Gamini until 1989 for a continuous period of seven years and was in constant contact with him. Gamini had a personality and a mind of his own, thought creatively and acted fearlessly. His leadership was unmatched. His decision-making was precise in order to achieve timely and optimum results. One of those decisive moments was in 1981 when he took action with the blessings of the then EXCO to ban the cricketers on the Rebel tour to South Africa for a period of 25 years without any hesitation whatsoever, so that it will be an eye opener for the future generation of cricketers. 

Following the conclusion of the ICC meeting in 1985, over a coffee in the Long Room at the Lord’s Cricket Grounds, Gamini asked me whether I could take over the Chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation almost overnight. It took me by surprise, since I knew that the responsibility of heading a State Corporation was demanding besides being a full-time job. I was then with the private sector since the early 1970’s post qualified.

Although I was on a few Director Boards of State Corporations, the task of taking over a corporation appeared to be a challenge. However, knowing Gamini’s thinking that he will not take “No” for an answer, I requested a few days’ time to ponder over the same. But that was not to be and on our return to Sri Lanka two days later, he summoned me to the Ministry of Lands and issued me with the letter to take charge of the corporation immediately. He had obviously made up his mind long before though it was not communicated to me. 

On hindsight it was a pleasure working with a personality of Gamini’s stature including the experience and knowledge I gained. We always had mutual respect for each other in our work ethics. I enjoyed every bit of our working relationship.

In the early to mid-eighties, the bid for the World Cup ’87 was a tussle between Australia/New Zealand on the one hand and India/Pakistan representing the Asian region. Australia had been very helpful to Sri Lanka in terms of exchange of tours which at that time was bare due to our not so strong cricket strength with the exit of key players on account of the rebel tour, etc. Domestically too incoming tours were hampered as a result of the LTTE terrorist activity. Besides, the fact that Australia supported us positively during the crucial vote at ICC without exercising the VETO following the visit of ACB Chairman Fred Bennet to Sri Lanka was foremost in Gamini’s mind.

In the midst of the ICC meeting, Gamini mentioned to me that Sri Lanka should show some gratitude and thereby initiated a dialogue with the Aussie delegation which included David Richards, to explain to them the circumstances that will compel SL to extend support to the bid from the Asian region. This was well-received and appreciated by the Australian delegates. Regional politics did eventually play a dominant role with the Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi speaking to his SL counterpart President J.R. Jayewardene and SLC had very little choice. Gamini’s concluding speech on behalf of the Asian region countries on the concept that the World Cup should be rotated as a part of promoting the game globally received overwhelming applause and support from the ICC membership. 

Lt. Gen. Safdar Butt, President of the Pakistan Cricket Board was a great friend of Gamini. Lt. Gen. Safdar was very commandeering and had a personality of his own. During the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka in 1986, there was a fair amount of upheaval with the umpiring of the Sri Lankan Umpires and the Captain of the Pakistan team Imran Khan, the current Prime Minister of Pakistan threatened to abandon the tour and take his team back to Pakistan.  That would have also jeopardised the Asia Cup 1986 which was to immediately follow the Pakistan tour. Gamini using his personal friendship immediately phoned his counterpart Lt. General Safdar Butt who promptly took a flight and arrived in Sri Lanka at Gamini’s request to settle the dispute. Sanity prevailed and the tour continued with a change of Umpires for the final Test at the P. Sara Oval. A major catastrophe was thus averted. 

Gamini never mixed cricket with politics. It was during our regime that the long-felt need of a headquarters for the Cricket Board was identified and the project commenced at the SSC grounds. Gamini was able to negotiate terms with President J.R. Jayewardene who was also the President of SSC to construct the HQ and the award was given to the State Engineering Corporation. We had no funds, but Gamini used his offices and found sponsors with the Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation Gamini’s creation also chipping in.

During the completion stage Turnor Wickremasinghe, engineer in charge of the project at SSC, told me that he would use light green and black paint to the front of the building and that he has consulted the architects, etc. They also opined it would blend well with the green grass in the background. As Secretary of the Board the SEC Consultants were in touch with me on a daily basis on all routine matters during construction and I gave the green light to go ahead. 

A couple of weeks later, I happened to travel to the SLC with Gamini for a Board Meeting and he was fuming when he saw the external walls in a light green shade and questioned me as to whose bright idea it was to use green colour on the walls. I must say he was very polite and I admitted that I had given the go ahead since it came from the architects. He requested me to get them to substitute the green colour immediately with white at whatever cost since the public perception would be that we used green as he was the President of the Board as it was his party colour. It remains white to date.

During the early ’80s Gamini appointed me as the Treasurer of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union with the blessings of the President when he took over the reins of the Union as the President. He set out his program of work in such a manner always conscious of the fact that LJEWU being a Trade Union its paramount commitment should be towards the welfare of its members viz the plantation workers employed mostly in the tea, rubber and coconut plantations who were suffering untold hardships. He was particularly grieved to note that the worker’s relationship with the estate management left much to be desired. 

He realised a new dialogue as a prerequisite and it was time the management recognised this new challenge. He succeeded in bringing about this change through persuasive powers which included seeking government intervention from time to strike deals for the estate workers beyond wage hikes. That was the hallmark of Gamini as a Trade Union leader.

Dame Betty Boothroyd, former Speaker of the House of Commons of the UK once said, “From the numerous occasions that I have interacted with Gamini, it is clear that he has a huge vision for Sri Lanka and its people. While one could consider him an idealist, the very fact that he delivered in terms of the gigantic Mahaweli Project illustrates that he is also an extraordinary performer. It is a testimony to Gamini’s pragmatism and determination.

Finally, back to the Cricket Board Presidency, Gamini, it is my view that he carried out his responsibilities with consummate ease and tact. He was well-aware of the divide and the Club rivalries in cricket, yet he always endeavoured to make the Cricket Board a place that is accessible to all – both players and administrators alike, so long as it was in the best interest of cricket! I am so proud and privileged to have been closely associated with Gamini, the personality who took Sri Lanka Cricket to such great heights during his regime.