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| Monday, 3 January 2005 |
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Life and times in sport: Brigadier Japana Jayawardane Always on the Ball by Premasara Epasinghe Among the Rugby playing schools in Sri Lanka Trinity College Kandy occupies a prominent place. Today, we feature an outstanding player produced by Trinity - Jayadeva Parakrama Amarasekera Jayawardena, popularly and better known as Japana Jayawardena. Jayawardena was born on 25th October 1947, at Pahala Waluwwa, Botale. His parents Peter Jayawardane and Shiela Kulatilake Senanayake Amarasekera. His father was a district land officer. He is from Keembiya, Baddegama. His mother is from Botale. His father served as a DLO in Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura, Ampara and Moneragala. Japana has a brother and a sister Gamini and Malkanthie. He joined the, Trinity College in 1955. He started playing junior rugby at the age of 12 years. "My heroes at that time were some of the outstanding players like Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Eric Roles, Bultjens, and Jayantha Jayawardane. By that time, great players like S. B. Pilapitiya, Kavan Rambukwella and Bertie Dias had left Trinity. I had seen them playing for Kandy and up-country. Then, I saw Mohan Sayam. S. B. Pilapitiya, Bertie Dias and Denzil Kobbekaduwa who were stocky players." "They were three famous Trinitians who were outstanding scrum-halfs. As I am small made, I used to study them carefully and I wanted to emulate them. I took a liking seeing these outstanding players at play." Japana played in the first XV only one year. The scrum-half was M. T. M. Zarook. He was a Lion. He was a fine cricketer and a rugby player. Of course, as captain, Zarook could not be dropped. For this reason, Japana played in the 2nd XV. Further, he played hockey for Trinity, Kandy district and Central Province. When Zarook left Trinity he took over his position. He became a "Trinity Lion" in the first year itself. In 1996, he played under Glen Vanlangenberg and his coach was Percy Madugalle. In the first leg of the Bradby Shield played at Longden Place, the school from the hill capital trailed behind Royal by 0-3. In the dying, moments diminutive Japana scored a try to level the scores. The Kandy leg was merely plain-sailing with a handsome 12-3 win, Trinity regain the Bradby. Glen and Japana were selected to play for up-country in the Capper Cup game, but school authorities did not grant them permission. In the Big League, Japana Jayawardane first played for Havelocks. His good friend Glen Vanlangenberg and he grew up together and played Rugby at Trinity from the age of 13 as Scrum Half and Stand Off respectively and they joined Havelocks. Later, two of them played for Sri Lanka in the same position. Some of his class-mates ended up playing for clubs and Sri Lanka. They are Glen Vanlangenberg (stand off), Ajit Abeyratne (No. 8), Mark Sunderalingam (Flank Forward), Gorgey Tillkearatne (Wing Forward and Wing Three Quarter). The Havelocks Championship outfit of 1967 comprised Tyronne Holdenbottle, Kavern Gauder, Jeyer Rodriguesz, Royden De Silva, Chelliah, Gamini Fernando (Captain), Noel Brohier, Ifthikar Hameed, Japana Jayawardane, Glen Vanlangenberg, Gorgey Tillekaratne, Jeff Rutnam, Dan Rutnam, Maurice Fairweather, and Cholomendeley Henricus. Havelocks retained the Clifford Cup in 1968 under the captaincy of Noel Brohier and Japana and Glen paired oft. In 1969 Havelocks lost to Kandy. Kandy was captained by Denzil Kobbekaduwa. If my memory serves right, outstanding ruggerites Y. C. Chang and Dr. Makuloluwa, represented Kandy. In 1969, Japana joined the Sri Lanka Army. His coaches in the Army, were Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Bertie Dias, and Sena De Silva. Japana played for Sri Lanka in 1970 Bangkok Asia. He played for Army and Sri Lanka in 1971 and 1972 up to 1982. He captained both teams in 1974. Japana was undoubtedly a scrum half par excellence. He was a fine link man between the forwards and the three-quarters and in short a real play-maker. Japana was a household name in the field of Rugby in Sri Lanka. Unassuming "Japana" is a colourful personality. After hanging his boots Japana held many top positions as a Rugby Administrator. He was one time the Chairman of Army Rugby committee. He was the President of Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society and a past President of Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union. Now retired as a Brigadier, Japana Jayawardane, is instrumental in presenting a paper on sports science/physical education as a subject to his school curriculum at Trinity College, Kandy his proposal were given to the Principal and the Old Boys' Association. His novel thinking will not only help the Trinitians, but also other ruggerites. "I think it is high time Sri Lanka looks to the future in developing sports as a profession. Sports science would emerge as a profitable profession in due course. Therefore, I would like to recommend very strongly that Trinity College include sports science/physical education as a subject to school curriculum with the same emphasis of teaching Science, Arts, Engineering, Agriculture, Bio-Science commerce, Computer etc." stated Japana Jayawardane. Some of the areas included in the curriculum are Human Anatomy, Sports Injuries and Sports Medicine, Physiology, Nutrition, Sports Law, Sports Administration Promoting of Kit and Equipment Coaching/Training, Sports Discipline Leadership, Sports Commentators/Writers, Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing, Computer and Video Recording etc. He was thankful and grateful to the former Army Commanders Sepala Aattygalle, Rohan De S. Daluwatta and Sri Lal Weersooriya and Brigadier Ramanayake. He played in five Clifford Cup Tournaments. When he was representing Army. Under S. P. De Silva in 1973, and in 1975 and 1979 under the Captaincy of Saliya Udugama and Daya Ratnayake, Sri Army Clinched the Clifford Cup. In 1976, Japana Jayawardena tied the nuptial knot with Krishanthi Rodrigo. She is a legal officer attached to National Development Bank. She is a tower of inspiration to him. They have a son. His name is Kushan. |
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