He was a key figure in Sri Lankan cricket drilling coliseum, and honed numerous previous cricketers, most eminently the world container winning commander Arjuna Ranatunga.
Lionel Mendis had his developmental instruction at Dharmashoka College, Ambalangoda. His dad, R.M.Mendis was Head Tea Maker and Factory Manager at HighForest Estate, Kandapola , Nuwara-Eliya in the mid forties. Lionel's dad passed away when he was only six years of age.
Lionel took in the amusement's fundamentals at Dharmashoka College under Mr. Tom Fernando, an Old Thomian and SCC Cricketer. He spoke to the school at all levels in cricket before joining Richmond College, Galle.
He played for Richmond College First XI for three back to back years in the mid fifties , at Richmond his mentors were Mr. Walter May, Mr Mahesh Rodrigo ( previous SriLanka Cap) and Mr.A.S.Weerasinghe.
In the wake of leaving school, he played for Ambalangoda Sports Club (Old Sokians).
He joined the showing calling as a Science Assistant educator in 1959 and his first arrangement was to Karandeniya Central College , maha-Edanda, a town school five miles far from Ambalangoda. It was here that Lionel understood the upbeat experience of showing and subsequently needed get qualified as an instructor. In 1960 Lionel joined the Govt. Preparing school, Maharagama to end up an expert educator. He went out in 1961. He worked in the instructing of Biology and later joined the Tutorial Staff of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura. Notwithstanding showing he honed cricket to understudies furthermore prepared Army Cadets of the school being a charged officer of the SriLanka Army volunteer force.He played cricket for the training office in the Government Services "A" Division cricket competition for various years.
Indeed, even in his late forties he played cricket and captained the Nondescript cricket Club Division III group in the Daily news Trophy Tournament for a long time from 1982 to 1984. In 1969 he was exchanged to Nalanda school Colombo.
At Nalanda he taught science and toward the evening acted as the Junior Cricket Coach. Besides he was superintendent of the school lodging.
In 1973 he traversed to Ananda College Colombo where he had a long innings. He dedicated his whole time to Ananda College on different parts, similar to Senior Cricket Master, Junior Cricket Coach, Prefect of Games, Deputy Warden of the Hostel, Teacher accountable for Prefects,Teacher responsible for minor workers, Broadcasting Chief of the Broadcasting unit that was started by him which presented a percentage of the acclaimed media individual to the nation.
Lionel Mendis was recompensed an Honorary Doctorate in Sports by the O.I.U. which is associated to the O.I.U. in USA in 2002.
Lionel Mendis got the ICC centennial Award ( 1909-2009) in acknowledgment of his exceptional support of SriLanka Cricket in 2009. He was additionally a Gold's beneficiary Award for cricket instructing at the Golden Jubilee festivities of SriLanka Cricket in 1998.
