Gayan Senanayake – Sri Lanka’s Cricket Cheering Leader – Talks exclusively to eLanka in Australia – His Life, His Passion & Memories!
What an amazing individual, Mr Gayan Senanayake, the sole mascot of the Sri Lankan cricket team, a public figure any cricket fan, which ever country they supported would not miss if at a Sri Lankan cricket game or watching a Sri Lankan cricket game on TV.
Gayan spoke to eLanka during his recent visit to Sydney for the T20 World Cup Cricket encounter.
A humble individual born in Kalubowila, Sri Lanka, and attended Kalubowila maha Vidyalaya for his studies. Gayan started his passion in cricket back in 1992 when he watch a New Zealand vs Sri Lanka game on TV. Then, as part of this sense of love for cricket Gayan watched his first game of live cricket in 1992 when Alan Boarder brought his Australian team to verse the mightily Sri Lankan team led by Arjuna Ranatunga at the Ketharama stadium; Gayan’s first introduction to ODI cricket with the men in Yellow (Australian team) against the men in Blue (the Sri Lankan team).
Of course the 1996 ODI win for Sri Lanka, was perhaps the greatest push for Gayan to then follow every Sri Lankan game played in Sri Lanka and then from 2000, attended every match with his first trip overseas in 2006.
Gayan recalls, his first overseas trip to watch the Sri Lankan take on Bangladesh was a mighty trip in 2006. He recalls, the cost of the flight back then was Rs 65,000, an amount which was too steep for his pocket!. With the assistance of the Indian team and embassies, Gayan managed to secure a ticket for Rs25,00 to Chennai, and then hopped a train over 32 hours to Calcutta and then a Bus for a further several hours before reaching Dhakka for his first event overseas cricket encounter!
Enough said about his passion for the game…. Travelling over 2 days to watch and support the team he loved!
Gayan since 2012 has been the Brand Ambassador and sponsored by Dean Brothers, CEO of DBL Group Dr. Najeeb Deen to whom he is most grateful.
Gayan recalls most of the cricket ground he has visited, especially for the world cup games, in 2011, 2015 and 2019 including visiting Lords & MCG which are at the top of his list! .
Gayan simply knows every cricket player in the ‘book’ and if we were to cover every photo which he has provided, it will become a novel! So, for the first article about Gayan on eLanka we have included a few photos of him posing with the ‘stars!’.
Gayan recalls one of the proudest moments of his life…. The only Sri Lankan to be invited to Virat Koli’s wedding in 2017!
“Oh, I also have met up with several Indian stars other than the cricket stars:….. Gayan says! Then he names a few… Sharuk Khan, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone to name a few!
Gayan says he does not ‘mind’ the English players and above, with all rounder Sam Curran!
Gayan also thanks Aussie cricketers such as Steve smith & Mitch Starc along with Other cricket starts such as Harbajan Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina who have given him so many of their cricketing memorabilia such as caps and shirts!
Gayan says his fans are the love and support of his life! Every state in Austrlaia he has visited, the cricket lovers have supported him with open arms he says!
Gayan give special thanks to CEO of DBL Group Dr. Najeeb Deen, COO Mr Faamin Najeeb , GM Mr Jayaweera, Finance Manager Mr Ketanwala and the entire DBL Team for fully sponsoring him for the T20 Men’s Cricket World cup in Australia.
I’m looking forward to the tournament and will make sure to cheer and steer our Lankan lions towards the victory.
Gayan will be travelling to watch the T20 Worldcup Grand Final at the MCG on Sunday 13th November before returning to Sri Lanka to cheer at the Afganistan games. Then he flies to India when Gayan thinks the Lankan team will get the ‘better’ of the Indian team
To end, Gayan says… Along with the full support to my national team I also will be promoting the theme ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ to boost tourism in my beautiful country.
Let’s go Sri Lanka !!! Gayan Says!
We at elanka thank Gayan for this lovely opportunity to meet him and chat about His Life, His Passion & Memories!
Finally, here is a photo taken at a quiet dinner held in a Sydney Indian Restaurant with Siva of Blue Elephant and MC Duke – Sydney’s most famous MC!
Until we write the 2nd story about Gayan, we end this with; as Gayan Says…… “Let’s go Sri Lanka !!!”
Disclaimer: We apologise for any errors in this article as this is how our dear friend Gayan related ‘his side of the story to eLanka”
Copyright permission to reproduce – please email info@eLanka.com.au
