Carlton Club Tennis

dship and enjoy the benefits of companionship. There were picnic parties, bathing excursions and moon light evenings on the Lunawa beach. There was no rigid constitution at the beginning. Minutes of the meetings were kept. The membership gradually increased, the spirit of comradeship grew and the standard of tennis improved beyond measure. In 1935, the policy of the club was revised with the gradual growth in membership. Young people were encouraged to join and ladies were eligible for membership. War years proved to be difficult for the club, but strangely the membership kept on increasing, and tennis continued without interruption and annual tournaments were also conducted. Exhibition tennis was also arranged on one occasion by the C.L.T.A. ( now S.L.T.A. ) in aid of war funds. In 1947, the club pavilion was extended, when the visiting Indian players paid us the honour of choosing our club to play Public Exhibition Tennis matches. Our “ Open tennis tournaments” were started in 1943, recognized by the S.L.T.A. for ranking purposes, and were an annual feature. Our representatives have held office in the S.L.T.A. and Sports Ministry. We had Dr. A.M. Fernando in the S.L.T.A. committee for many years. Air Vice Marshall Lalaka Peiris continues to represent us in the S.L.T.A. committee. Fernando and Paul Senaratne were elected Presidents. Dr. Mohanlal Fernando was a Deputy Director of Sports. In 1951 the new Pavilion was gifted by the founder – Sir Ernest Fernando and also a Billiard room. The club during this period greatly increased the social activities. Club nights, dinner dances, cards, bridge, and billiards were regular features of the club during this period. Carlton Club Moratuwa had produced many tennis players of repute. Nirmalath Mendis was the public schools boys champion in 1964. Mala Fernando won the mixed doubles title in the Nationals with B.L. Pinto. Shobini De Silva was the Public schools Girls tennis champion in the Senior category for 3 years in succession from 1982 – 84. She was ranked no. 1 in the Women’s singles by the S.L.T.A. in 1987 and ranked no. 2 in 1989. Vajira Premaratne started her tennis at the Carlton Club Moratuwa and was coached initially by the Late T.L. She had won the women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the National Championships, and went on to represent country at SAF games. She also won many championships in ranking tournaments in Sri Lanka and abroad. Carlton Club had won many inter club singles and doubles tournaments in various divisions, throughout her long history. Eminent criminal lawyer the late Eardley Perera PC was a President of the club for many years. Many distinguished personalities had given leadership to the club during her 90 year period. The club had in recent years reclaimed the back garden, which was earlier muddy area. The Club grounds had added value to the club, and the Lunawa lagoon on the eastern side of the grounds gives it a picturesque setting on the backdrop with water flowing and birds both local and migratory frequenting the lagoon now and again. The lagoon is the home for many fish and reptile species over the years, and members and guests could relax in a serene atmosphere.