Wellington School of Cricket’s new international student Hareen Silva knew straightaway that he was going to like Wellington as soon as he arrived in mid-July to start a three-year Business degree at Whitereia Polytechnic and to continue his cricket career.
“The people here have been nothing but friendly since I arrived in the country,” he says, “[WSC Manager] Asoka and [WSC staff] Ivan and Glenn welcomed me and made the start of my stay really easy and I’ve already made several new Kiwi friends.”
He loves all sports and is pleased he’s come to the right country for that. “My father played for the Sri Lankan Schools Soccer team in the 1970s, while I watch the All Blacks and was a big fan of [former All Blacks first five-eighth] Carlos Spencer growing up. My cousin plays No. 8 for his school team and scored 25 tries last year.”
Cricket is Hareen’s first love and he is grateful that he can continue his promising cricket career as a top order left hand batsman and at the same time continue his studies - which he couldn’t manage to combine back home.
“I love playing cricket and hope to go far, but I also want to secure my future and coming here to New Zealand, a popular cricket country with a good reputation for education and lifestyle, appealed as a perfect fit for me.”
“As an example, I played in one national U23 tournament back home, but I couldn’t play in it the next year because it clashed with my schooling and I had to prioritise and do my A level studies instead. Here I can do both.”
“At home cricket is virtually a year-round game, we only get a three or four week break and the season starts again. At school I was playing U19s when I was also playing for the U15s so I was always playing.”
His cricket career has so far seen him represent the Sri Lanka Schools Under 15 team in two matches against Bangladesh, famously star for his school side, St Joseph’s College in their 75th annual traditional ‘Battle of the Saints Big Match’ against old rivals St. Peter’s College and most recently make Colombo’s Moors Sports Club’s first-class squad.
A career highlight so far was his exploits in the ‘Big Match’ for his school. “I scored 141 not out in the first innings and then 56 not out in the second innings to help us take the game out on first innings and am proud of that.”
Hareen finished school at St. Joes in the middle of 2009 having worked hard for and attained his A levels (New Zealand NCEA Scholarship equivalent) majoring in Commerce, and enjoyed his recent orientation week at Whitereia Polytechnic where he is looking forward to starting classes and resuming his academic career.
Hareen first heard about the opportunity to come to New Zealand to practice and play cricket and study through the WSC’s Sri Lankan agent Aruna Sandarage and Susilough, (an old boy of his college) whom he knew back home in Colombo. “They knew that I wanted to continue with both at the same time and approached me about going to New Zealand and join the WSC Graduation Programme as an international student.”
“I talked to my father about it and he was fully supportive so I made further enquiries and started making my plans.
“The application and planning process was very easy because Aruna Sandarage was really forthcoming in supporting me, answering my questions and providing me with every single detail, the procedures to work through and just as importantly what to expect when I arrived.
“This is my first time in New Zealand, although I have visited Australia [Sydney and Melbourne in 2008], but I have never lived anywhere but home, which is Ragama just outside Colombo.
“I arrived in Wellington and Asoka and Ivan picked me up. They were amazing and helped me settle down very quickly. They and their families supported me a lot and made me feel at home and helped me find my way around.
“My accommodation at a university hostel in the middle of the city is comfortable and sociable and I’ve already made plans to move into a flat in a couple of weeks with some friends I’ve met.
“The other WSC students are all good guys and since we all share common goals everyone is friendly and welcoming.
“I’m about to start a three-year degree in Business at Whitereia Polytechnic and can’t wait to get back into my studies.”
“I’d love to become a Kiwi and get my PR [permanent residency] - that’s definitely a goal of mine and I feel really comfortable that I’ve come here and joined the WSC where I can improve my cricket and gain my qualifications.”