Prof. Vini - The 'Volleyball Chairman'

Though Volleyball was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1916 by Voltor Cameck, did you know that it was only in 1992 that it was made the National sport?

Born today in 1928, Prof. Vini Vitharana was a prominent Sinhala Scholar and Linguist who led the committee along with the President and Secretary of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Association, who proposed to the Sports Minister that Volleyball should be made the National Sport of Sri Lanka.

This was soon after Sri Lanka won the first Gold Medal in an International Game at the 5th South Asian Games held in Colombo in 1991 by the Sri Lanka Women's Volleyball team under the captainship of Renuka Abegunawardena Yapa.

The 'Hela Havula" Movement

Prof. Vitharana was one of the founding members of the "Hela Havula" movement at S.Thomas' College, and was very active in the revival and preservation of the Sinhala Language.

He started a teacher at Mahinda College, his alma mater, before joining the School by the Sea under the invitation of Canon R.S. De Saram who was keen to teach students the mother tongue and the first Ceylonese Warden of the College.

The'Hela Basa' Teachers of STC in 1955 (Prof. Vini standing second from Right)

A UNESCO Award Winner

Though his most notable work is in the Sinhala Language and held many positions in Government Universities and other establishments, his most prestigious achievements were being awarded by UNESCO in 1963 for his contributions to the Sinhala Language, and the 'Kala Keerthi' title in 1993.

Prof. Vini upon winning the HAI Goonetileka Prize for his translation of 'Kav Silumina'

Not just in Sinhala, he also won the H.A.I. Goonetileke Prize for Literary Translation in 2018, and passed away the very next year, aged 91.

This relatively short tribute may not capture every part of his notable contributions, but to remember his involvement with the nationalisation of the sport and special thanks should go to my Great Uncle for his article on the history of Volleyball.