Southern Motor Sports Club Official Web Site

* Tracking through the history of the SOUTHERN MOTOR SPORTS CLUB ::::::::::

Known to the country's motor sports lovers as, the SMSC, the Southern Motor club was established in 1997,by a group of motor sportsmen of Matara with Mr.Preethi Palliyaguru, Mr.Andrew Silva, and Mr.Ashhar Hameem in the lead along with Mr.Suranjith Premadasa.The inagural Genaral meeting of the Club was held on the 9th of February 1997 at Perl Cliff Hotel,Browns Hill, Matara.

The first executive committee was formed with Mr.Suranjith Premadasa as the President and late Mr.Preethi Palliyaguru as the secretary.The first committee meeting of the Club was held at the residence of Mr.Suranjith Premadasa at Matara, on the 15th of February 1997.The following members were elected to the first Executive Committee.

President : Mr.Suranjith Premadasa

Secretary : Mr.Preethi Palliyaguru

Treasure : Mr.Ashhar Hameem

Vice Presidents : Mr.Dadley Hettiarachchi / Mr.Lalin De Silva / Mr.Mohan Surendra

Assistant Secretary : Mr.Andrew Silva

Committee : Dr.Oscar Amarasinghe / Mr.Priyantha Pathirana / Mr Upul Kodithuwakku

 

Mr.Andrew Gamage / Mr.Rohan Gamage / Mr.Harsha Priyadarshana

Mr.Aruna SiriwardanaMr.A.B.Nimal De Silva / Mr.Athula Surendra

Mr.Shihan Shamsudeen.

In the formation of the club,theClub had its major objective as "taking motor sports to the less-privilaged rural youth in the south, while elevating the standards of motor sports to international levels".The club reached its aims by organising very exciting motor rallies and hill climbs,where the competitors were not required to drive expensive racing cars.This indeed a number of motor sports lovers in the south to take part in motor sports events.Even a person behind the wheels of his pld Morris Minor could win a rally with precision driving.

The inducements to the southern youth started with the organisation of the Caltex - Marble Decor Southern Rally 1997,which was held on the 26th and 27th of July 1997,followed by the Southern Eliyakanda Hill Climb on the 21st of December ,the same year.Both these maiden events of the Club become one of the most exciting and momorable events ever held in the southern reigon of the country. Conducting of these two events saw SMSC's affiliation to the Sri Lanka Association for Motor Sports (SLAMS) (now SLAS) and SMSC remains the only outstation club to continue with its affiliation to SLAS since its inception.