Malik Samarawickrama steps down as Kandy SC Trustee

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Royal College Scrum Half, Head Coach and Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) President Malik Samarawickrama has stepped down from his position as Kandy Sports Club Trustee after more than three decades of service. 
Samarawickrama moved to the Central Hills and set up his business in the region giving employment for many rugby players. An initial lot of players moved from Colombo to Kandy including some top class players such as Inthi Marikar, L. V. Ekanayake, Shiyam Sideek and Rizvi Suhaib. 

Kandy SC didn’t win a trophy till Maurice Johachim led the outfit to a knock-out win in 1992 and two years later under Indrajith Bandaranayake’s leadership they won their first league win. From 1992 till date Kandy SC have won the league no less than 23 times and knock out on 22 occasions. 
Samarawickrama also coached Royal with Summa Navaratnam, Dr. Fred Perera and C P Abeygunawardena and won the Bradby on eight out of nine occasions losing out only in 1974. 
He played for Royal from 1966 to 68, later coaching the inaugural R Premadasa Trophy and President’s Trophy winning teams, and oversaw a Clifford Cup win for the Red Shirts. He will give way to the younger generation to take over the management of the club.
Kandy Sports Club will have its 149th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on July 30 and the President candidate will be decided at a special meeting which will take place at their Club House on July 7.