Dr. HMP ‘Hubert Mathias Peter’ PERERA (aka Humpy) – National Athletics Champion 220 & 440 yards – By Ravi Rudra, Auckland, New Zealand, 25th Sep 2024
Dear Friends
I am extremely delighted to share a compilation (attached) on one of Sri Lanka’s finest 220 & 440 yards athlete – Dr. HMP ‘Humpy’ Perera.
Until now very little has been known about this unassuming former track champion.
Hence, I am truly grateful to Dr. HMP’s daughter Kumu (Kumudini) Fernando & nephew and former Thomian, Dayantha Perera for assisting me with relevant information and precious photos.
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I must also thank both Manilka Wijesooriya (who encouraged me to do the research by putting me in tough with Kumu) and Deepal Lecamwasam (who introduced me to his former classmate Dayantha).
(09 Sep 1920 – 25 Dec 1991)
- (09 Sep 1920 – 25 Dec 1991) National Champion 220 yards – 1939 (22.8s), 1943 (23.7s) & 1945 (23.6s).
- National Champion 440 yards – 1938 (51.0s), 1939 (50.4s), 1941 (51.1s), 1942 (51.8s), 1943 (51.7s), 1945 (51.4s) & 1950 (50.9s).
- National Record Holder – both 440 yards (50.4s – 28.10.39) & 400 metres (49.9s – 05.01.1946).
- First Sri Lankan to run the 400m in under 50.0s.
Dr. HMP ‘Hubert Mathias Peter’ PERERA (aka Humpy) National Athletics Champion 220 & 440 yards
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- (09 Sep 1920 – 25 Dec 1991) National Champion 220 yards – 1939 (22.8s), 1943 (23.7s) & 1945 (23.6s).
- National Champion 440 yards – 1938 (51.0s), 1939 (50.4s), 1941 (51.1s), 1942 (51.8s), 1943 (51.7s), 1945 (51.4s) & 1950 (50.9s).
- National Record Holder – both 440 yards (50.4s – 28.10.39) & 400 metres (49.9s – 05.01.1946).
- First Sri Lankan to run the 400m in under 50.0s.
(Compiled by Ravi Rudra, Auckland, New Zealand, 25th Sep 2024)
An Inherent Gift For Excelling
19 year-old HMP Perera – Winner of the Wilton Bartleet Trophy for the Most Outstanding Performance at the 1939 National Athletics Meet.
Born in Moratuwa, Dr HMP Perera (HMP) began his early schooling at St. Sebastian’s prior to entering S. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia. Surprisingly, he left STC to join St. Joseph’s where he began his athletics career as senior (helping SJC to win the 1937 Senior Tarbat) before entering Colombo Medical College.
HMP blossomed into a top athlete during his University days, and later with the Nemeans Athletics Club where he won several National Titles and Records. He won his first National title on the day after his 18th birthday and at age 19 won the Wilton Bartleet Trophy for Best Performance at the Nationals for winning the 220 yards (22.8s) and 440 yards in a record time (50.4s) – a record that stood for 23 years.
The most astonishing aspect of his athletics career is that HMP seemed not to have had a proper coach or mentor. He was accomplishing outstanding feats, both as a student and as a self-made athlete, by sheer self-motivation, discipline and determination in order to maximize his God-given natural talents and abilities. Hard work, training, and mental
resilience were also critical for his elite performances. HMP was selected to represent Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in dual meets against India but was very unlucky to have missed out on selection for the 1948 London Olympics due to a bout of amoebiasis, an infection of the intestines.
Remarkably, HMP was selected as Manager of the Athletics Team, at the tender age of 29 (for a manager), for the 1950 British Empire Games held in Auckland, New Zealand. He had a knack of excelling at a younger age than most.
Having had the distinction of becoming the first Sri Lankan to run the 400 metres in under 50 seconds, HMP retired triumphantly from competitive Athletics in 1950, when he won his seventh 440 yards National title. Crowned as the 220 yards National champion for three years, he was also part of the Nemeans AC 4×440 relay team that set a National Record (3m 34.0s) in 1939. That is some achievement to be proud of!
Whenever Dr. HMP was approached for trophy donations he was known to give away, selflessly, some of his prized-trophies to be awarded to young athletes.
Dr HMP Perera married Eileen on 30th October 1947.
HMP loved his music, especially singing. Apparently he could sing all the songs from ‘My Fair Lady’ and possibly knew the entire dialogue from the movie by heart. Academics – Athletics – Music – Character, what an ideal combination for anyone!
On a personal note, I met Dr HMP Perera, for the first time, at his Kollupitiya residence in Oct 1969 when I was taken to see him by both, Mr. ECK Abeysekera (master-in-charge of athletics) and Mr. NM Perera (coach), few days after tearing my hamstring very badly at the Pubs Athletics meet. He had a real presence about him and even though I met him again, in 1972, while training at the college grounds and we spoke, he never once mentioned about his feats on the track. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
– Ravi Rudra
“H.M.P. Perera who later became a medical doctor was probably the most prominent athlete of all. Perera representing Nemeans Sports Club, in 1945, won both the 220 yards (23.6 secs) and the 440 yards (51.4 secs).
Perera held the national record of the 440 yards for 23 years from 1939 and produced Asia’s fastest time of the distance 49.5 seconds at an Indo-Lanka dual in 1946.
At the same meet, which was held in Bangalore, Duncan White ran an Asian record time of 54.9 seconds to win the 400m hurdles. The quarter mile specialist Perera was unbeaten at National Championships. His name appears as the winner of nationals in 1938, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45 and 50.”
(By Reemus Fernando for The Island, 25 Dec 2020)
My Father
By Kumudini (Kumu) Fernando, eldest daughter of Dr HMP Perera
“You are not going to believe this, but I am sadly ignorant of what my father did. Thathi rarely spoke of his achievements. And we didn’t press him to tell us either.
My father, Hubert Mathias Peter (HMP) Perera, was born on the 9th of September 1920 to Mr. D.E.W. and Mrs. Emily Perera in Moratuwa. He was the fourth in a family of twelve. Six boys and six girls. Two of the girls did not reach adulthood. He was one of three doctors in that family.
Father gained the name Humpy , because of his initials HMP. Some child at St. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia, named him thus, on the 1st day of school at STC. I have no clue as to what he did at STC. STC probably didn’t foster his athletic prowess, so he left school and joined St. Joseph’s College Maradana and won the Tarbet Cup (1937).”
HMP Perera (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo) receiving the Sir John Tarbat Challenge Trophy for winning the 1937 Public Schools Championships.
*St. Joseph’s College beat St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna for the Senior Tarbat Trophy in 1937 and also took the Jefferson Challenge Cup for Senior Relays by winning both the 4×110 yards (47.0s) and 4×440 yards (3m 42.0s) – RR].
“I understand having passed whatever exam to gain entrance to Medical College, he was considered too young to enter Medical College that year.
I assume he represented the university in the following years. I don’t know for sure. He didn’t have any formal training – I think. Just inborn ability.”
1938 & 39 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ATHLETICS CERTIFICATES
1939 – Ceylon National Athletics Championships
440 Yards National Champion & National Record (50.4s)
With the Ceylon Team at the 1950 British Empire Games (Held in Auckland, New Zealand, 4th – 11th Feb 1950)
HMP Perera (aged 29), Manager of the Ceylon Empire Games Athletics Team (2nd from right – back row), with some of the members of the team photographed on the deck of the Orcades on arrival in Melbourne. They were on their way to Auckland, New Zealand.
Duncan White is 2nd from right – front row
Empire Games at Eden Park, Auckland 04-11 Feb 1950
Ceylon team at the 1950 British Empire Games opening, Eden Park, Auckland
(Photos courtesy of Archives New Zealand – RR)
1950 British Empire Games | Film | NZ On Screen
Team from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) for the 1950 British Empire Games at Eden Park, Auckland. Shows the athletes wearing their official uniforms and parading round the track during the opening ceremony. Photograph taken on 4 February 1950 by an Evening Post photographer.
http://api.digitalnz.org/records/22433300/source
Athletics at the 1950 British Empire Games – Men’s 440 yards hurdles Final
Gold – Duncan White (Ceylon) 52.5s (Games Record)
Silver – John Holland (New Zealand) 52.7s
Bronze – Geoff Goodacre (Australia) 53.1s
Sri Lanka’s 1st.Ever Track Gold: Duncan White- 440Yds.Hurdles,1950 Empire Games, Auckland, NZ
(photos from rare TV footage
Duncan White at the start of the 440 Hurdles Finals.
Duncan White breasting the tape to win Gold.
John Holland (New Zealand) who came second congratulates Duncan White.
Duncan White – Delighted after his record-breaking win.
Duncan White on the Podium
Duncan White – First ever Gold medal for Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
Athletics at the 1950 British Empire Games – Men’s 4 × 110 yards relay
Athletics at the 1950 British Empire Games – Men’s 4 × 440 yards relay
Feb 1950: Dashing HMP, Manager of the Ceylon Athletics Team, pictured with his young wife Eileen in Auckland, during the 1950 Empire Games
Few of HMP’s Medals
Top: 28.02.1948 C.A.A.A. Meet; Middle: Indo-Ceylon Contest 1946; Bottom: Empire Games 1950 (Commemorative Medal).
Dr. HMP PERERA & EILEEN – WEDDING 30th OCTOBER 1947
Silver Wedding Anniversary of Dr HMP & Mrs Perera – 30th October 1972
(L-R) are son-in-law Ranjit Fernando (Kumudini’s husband), daughter Kumudini and father Dr HMP. In the foreground are daughter Shyara and mother Eileen.
Standing (L-R) are daughter Shyara and her husband Tony, Michael Prabaharan (a friend of ours), Ranjit and eldest daughter Kumudini.
Seated (L-R) are Thathi (Dr. HMP), Dimitri (Kumudini’s son), Ammi (Eileen) and Sashika (Kumudini’s elder daughter).
Seated on the carpet is Shevonne, (Shyara’s daughter)
This photo was taken either in 1988 or 1989.
“Father loved to sing and was the heart and soul of any family party. Never pushed me to do anything in the way of sports. He loved to read. And if he was not gardening or treating a patient at home in his gardening shorts , you would find him in his හාන්සි පුටුව lost in a book.”
“Father died on Christmas Day 1991. In all probability this photo was taken a day before he died. 24/12/1991 while he was officiating at the South Asian Games (5th SAF Games) held in Colombo.”
– Kumu
“My father died on Christmas day of 1991 at about 4.15 in the afternoon. That morning he had gone to church- St. Michael’s and then wished everyone in church. We, as a family had breakfast at my parent’s house, and we all had Christmas Lunch at my house.
He then went home for a nap and got up shortly before 4 pm to go for a walk, to walk off the breakfast and lunch, in preparation for dinner at my uncle’s house next door.
He then felt his heart beating irregularly. My mother asked him to get back into bed. While changing into his sarong, he just sat on the bed and fell back dead.
While it was a huge shock for us I thank God that, that’s the way he died. He had been a heart patient from May of 1974, and had numerous residential visits to the cardiology section of the general hospital. He was a horrible patient and could never give up his
addiction to cigarettes.”
– Kumudini (Kumu) Fernando, daughter of Dr HMP Perera.
Dr. HMP Perera delivering his presidential address, when he was President of the College of Paediatricians in Sri Lanka.
HMP Perera recollects his 440 yards rivalry with legendary Duncan White!
“I ran the same race (440 yards) in 1939, 41, 42, 43 & 45. Duncan White could have (if he had only chosen to) run against me during those years.
Instead he switched to the 440 yards hurdles, an event that was introduced at the Quadrangular Meet the same year, 1938. He did however run in the 440 yards at the dual meet (against India).
In 1942, the late Dr. G.S.W. de Saram, himself a quarter mile champion in his day tried to arrange a race between Duncan White, R.E. Kitto, R.R. Scott & me. Kitto, Scott and I were agreeable, White alone refused. This is merely a statement of fact and in no way meant to detract from White’s great achievements at the (1948) Olympics and later at the British Empire Games in Auckland in 1950.”
“….White & I ran the finals of the 440 yards flat on 10.09.1938. It was my first National Championships. It was a day after my 18th birthday.
I won in 51.0 secs. White returned a time of 51.6 secs – five yards behind me. My time was 0.6 secs off his (White’s) National record of 50.4 secs (set in 1937).
The late S.P. Foenander judged my performance the second best in that championships. Brooke D’ Silva’s 179 feet in the javelin was the best performance.
It was a memorable day for me. Even now forty six years later I can recall it with great detail. That was the last time White ran a 440 flat with me”
– extract from Dr. HMP Perera’s hand-written letter of 1984.
18-year old HMP Perera narrowly missed out to 20-year-old, former Thomian, Brookie D’ Silva (above) for the Wilton Bartleet Trophy in 1938. Brookie was awarded the Best Performance for breaking the Ceylon Javelin Record (171’ 5 ½”) at the 1938 Nationals Athletics Championship. Brookie improved his National Javelin Record to 181’ 6 ¾” in 1943 – a superb record that stood for 13 years (until 1956).
Results of the 1945 Ceylon National Athletics Championship
Held on 14 and 15th October at the Police Ground, Bambalapitiya
220 yards:
1. H.M.P. Perera (Nemeans Sports Club) 23.6secs., 2. W.T. Saunders (Jaffna College), 3. F.H. Brohier (Ace Athletic Club)
440 yards:
1. H.M.P. Perera (Nemeans Sports Club) 51.4secs., 2. J. Xavier (Navy), 3. P. Raymond (Army)
Javelin Throw:
1. B.C. D’ Silva (Nemeans Sports Club) 171 ft 1 ins, 2. L.C. Goonaratne (Ace Athletic Club), 3. V.R. Fernando (Silverline SC)
My deepest gratitude to Kumudini Fernando & Dayantha Perera, former Thomian & nephew of Dr HMP Perera, for providing precious information on one of Sri Lanka’s finest athlete, whose wonderful achievements one knew very little about. I sincerely hope his achievements will inspire the next generation of youngsters in Sri Lanka.
I understand Dr HMP Perera’s eldest great-granddaughter, Khaya Liyanage is a highly talented Athlete, Netballer and a bright Student at Methodist College, Colombo, while youngest great-grandson, Kai Slemmermann, whose is due to enter St. Joseph’s College next year, is already showing great promise as a Ruggerite and Athlete – very strong
and fast for his age. My Very Best Wishes to both of them too!
– Ravi Rudra, Auckland, New Zealand (25th Sep 2024)
