The article was written by – Major GWMA Chithrarathna CES
In July 2016, as a newly commissioned second Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Engineer Services, I, Second Lieutenant G W M A Chithrarathna, embarked on a mission to introduce chess to the Sri Lankan Army. At that time, I was stationed in the 59th Division in Mullaitivu, and despite the challenges, I was determined to cultivate a thriving chess community within the Army.
Upon learning that sports activities in the Army were managed by the Directorate of Sports, I reached out to the chief clerk, Warrant Officer WO1 Gunathilaka. Although unfamiliar with chess, he was very enthusiastic about introducing the game to the Army. He asked me to submit my chess credentials to verify my background and passion for the game. After reviewing my certificates, he discussed the matter with officers in the Directorate of Sports and arranged for me to meet Colonel – Directorate of Sports.
During my leave from Mullaitivu, I visited the Directorate of Sports and met with the Colonel of the Directorate of Sports, who was equally eager to support the initiative. He appointed Major Rasika Dissanayaka as the subject officer for chess and encouraged me to identify potential players within the civil society who might join the Army. The responsibility of the subject officer for chess was later transferred to Major Senevirathna.
I was then tasked with drafting a proposal to formally establish chess in the Army. This proposal, submitted in August 2016, received approval from the Director of the Directorate of Sports and was forwarded to the Army Commander, General AWJC De Silva RWP VSV USP ndu psc. At that time, Brigadier GJAW Galagamage served as the Director of Sports. General De Silva appointed Colonel GMCKB Ekanayake WWV RWP RSP psc as the first chairman of the Sri Lanka Army Chess Committee in October 2016. Despite being new to chess, Colonel Ekanayake was enthusiastic and committed to advancing the game within the Army. Our first meeting was held at the 661 Brigade on 16th October 2016, where Colonel Ekanayake served as the brigade commander.
Our initial step was to gather all chess-playing personnel within the Army. We organized the first chess workshop from January 2nd to January 6th, 2017, at the Army Sports Village in Panagoda. My good friend, Werochana Perera, a chess enthusiast and promoter, volunteered to help organize this event. The workshop was attended by officers and soldiers from 19 regiments. The resource persons included Mr Werochana Perera, Mr B.R.S. Sampath Jayawardhana, Mr Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Ms Taniya Kumari, and Ms Madumadhavi Dissanayaka.
Major Lakshitha Molligoda and Captain HMR Shantha provided invaluable support for organizing the workshop, despite having no direct connection to chess. At the end of the workshop, we held an inter-regiment chess tournament from January 6th to January 7th, 2017, where Private Rathnayaka RMNK of the Sri Lanka Army Service Corps emerged as the champion. Concurrently, we interviewed several civilian chess players for recruitment into the Army Chess Team, although this effort was not successful.
Following the workshop, I drafted a constitution for the Sri Lanka Army Chess Committee based on the constitutions of other sports. The first Annual General Meeting of the committee was conducted with the attendees of the workshop. Major TDT Wijesinghe of the Sri Lanka Army Signal Corps was appointed as the first secretary, and Mr Werochana Perera was appointed as the coach with a monthly salary of Rs. 45,000.00. Despite residing in Diyathalawa, Mr Perera agreed to work for the committee, with his initial appointment being approved from May 1st, 2017, to April 30th, 2018. This was renewed until he stepped down from the position.
The newly formed Sri Lanka Army Chess Team began participating in international FIDE-rated tournaments, starting with the Dhamso International Chess Festival 2017. Under Mr. Perera’s coaching, we organized regimental workshops and training sessions for differently-abled soldiers in various establishments, including Abhimansala Kamburupitiya, Abhimansala Kurunegala, Abhimansala Pangolla, Mihindu Seth Madura, and Ranaviru Sevana Ragama. Mr Perera invited one of his friends, Mr Sanjula Ravinath, to join him for work as a coach of the Sri Lanka Army due to there was a lot of work that needed to be done at the initial level.
Inaugural Inter-Regiment and Injured War Heroes’ Chess Championship
From 29th December 2017 to 04th January 2018, we organized the first Inter-Regiment and Injured War Heroes’ Chess Championship. (The injured War Heroes’ Chess Championship was held on 29th December 2017 at Pangolla ‘Abhimansala 3’ and Inter-Regiments Chess Championship from 02nd to 04th January 2018 at Sri Lanka Signal Corps Regimental Headquarters Auditorium) The event concluded with an awards ceremony on January 5th, 2018 at the Auditorium of Defence Services College, Colombo 2, presided over by Major General Amal Karunasekara, Chief of Staff, as the Chief Guest. Step by step, the Sri Lanka Army Chess Committee became more active in civil-organized chess championships, achieving notable success.
In 2019, we organized our first FIDE-rated tournament, the Fox Hill Chess Fiesta, held at the Marksmanship and Sniper Training School in Diyathalawa from 30th August 2019 to 02nd September 2019. Since then, annual inter-regiment chess championships have been held from 2019 to 2024. The leadership of the committee transitioned through Brigadier GMCKB Ekanayake WWV RWP RSP, Major General DBSN Bothota RWP RSP USP psc, and Major General MK Jayawardena RSP USP ndu, with Major General SWB Welagedara RSP VSV USP ndc currently serving as chairman. Mr. Werochana Perera stepped down as coach in 2019, with Mr. Sanjula Ravinath taking over the position.
The Sri Lanka Army Chess Committee continues to promote and develop chess within the Army, fostering a strong and competitive chess community. Our journey has seen the establishment of workshops, tournaments, and training sessions that have significantly contributed to the growth of chess in the Army. We remain committed to advancing the game and achieving greater success in the years to come.
The introduction and development of chess in the Sri Lanka Army have been a challenging yet rewarding journey. With the support of dedicated individuals and the commitment of the Army leadership, we have successfully established a vibrant chess community. Our efforts have not only promoted the game but also provided an avenue for personal development and camaraderie among the soldiers. The Sri Lanka Army Chess Committee will continue to strive for excellence and further the reach of chess within the Army.
