Pioneer of women’s cricket in Sri Lanka Gwen Herat is no more

Wednesday, 28 May 2025 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Gwen Herath receiving her Lifetime Achievement Award from Sri Lanka Cricket President Shammi Silva (File photo)

The local cricketing fraternity was at a loss following the passing away of Mrs Gwen Herat, the founder president of the Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Association (SLWCA) yesterday.

Gwen dedicated her lifetime to promoting women’s cricket in Sri Lanka and to a certain degree achieved her objectives like forming the SLWCA in 1996 against considerable odds. The SLWCA gave voice, structure and hope to female cricketers in the country. Her decade-long leadership transformed the landscape of Sri Lankan women’s cricket.

Under her guiding light, Sri Lanka debuted at the Women’s World Cup in 1997, just one year after the SLWCA’s inception, and went on to participate again in 2000 and 2005. “Right throughout my presidency, we were ranked sixth in the world out of 13 countries,” she once reflected, with quiet pride in her voice.

Perhaps one of Gwen’s most difficult decisions as a leader came with the 2006 merger of the SLWCA with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), a move mandated by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was a moment both triumphant and bittersweet. The merger promised a brighter future for women’s cricket in the form of better funding, exposure, and opportunities. “In the long run, the women cricketers would stand to benefit a lot coming under SLC,” she acknowledged.

During Gwen’s tenure as SLWCA president she was able to raise Rs. 2 million a year for five years through sponsorship from Singer (Sri Lanka), sponsors of Sri Lanka men’s 1996 World Cup winning team. Her ability to secure resources gave young cricketers improved financial support, travel allowances and recognition. Gwen became the first woman to hold the post of president of the male dominated Puttalam District Cricket Association for 15 years. She was a woman who gave everything to uplift Sri Lanka women’s cricket for no benefit.

A true cricket visionary Gwen received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sri Lanka Cricket for her dedication to women’s cricket in Sri Lanka at the Under19 Schools Cricket Awards in October 2023.

Her husband Harold Herath who predeceased her was a senior politician and Cabinet Minister in the early 90s.

(ST)

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