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| Wednesday, 6 August 2003 |
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Former Royal rugby skipper Raba passes away Former Royal skipper and CH and FC flanker Raba Gunasekera died on Sunday of a heart attack. He was 43-years-old. Raba who was domiciled in USA came to Sri Lanka on a holiday to witness the Bradby Shield match. Gunasekera was a superb flanker who played for Royal from 1977 to 1979 captaining the school in his final year. Under his leadership Royal had an excellent season in 1979 losing just one match (3-4 to Trinity) in the first-leg of the Bradby Shield at Bogambara, but won the shield by winning the return match by 18-0. He also helped Royal to clinch the Philip Buultjens Trophy by beating Isipatana 22-6 in the Rugby Sevens final. He was picked to lead the Colombo North Schools against the Colombo South Schools in the Gratiaen Cup match and steered then to victory by 35 points to 12. After leaving school he played a few matches for CH and FC before migrating to the United States. Among his team-mates at Royal were Rahim Junaideen, Raheel Hashim, Haroon Musafer, Sujanthakumar, Iqbal Hassan, Rohantha Palris and Wimal Eppaarachchi all of whom donned the Sri Lanka Jersey later. He hailed from a sporting family. Three of his brothers Suraj (1981-82), Ajith (1982-84) and Indrajith (1990) played rugby for Royal. His father Valentine Gunasekera played cricket for Royal from 1948 to 1950 captaining in the final year. Five of his uncles - Barney Gunasekera (1928 to 1930), Lionel (1931), Harry (1939), Christie (1941-1942) and Colonel Tilak (1941) also played cricket for Royal. Christie Gunasekera was later President of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and Deputy Principal of Royal from (1972 to 1985). |
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