Vernon Ratwatte - the left handed Roy Dias
 

by Sharm de Alwis

I never read the obits for fear I'd see my own name and find it not possible to attend the obsequies. Jayantha Jayawardena had to tell me that Venon Ratwatte has died.

Vernon died fifteen years shy of a century and to continue in the idiom of cricket, he was, arguably, the most elegant batsman in all the schools when he played for Trinity in 1940. I have had it from good authority - R.L. Kannangara, his coach and HEW 'Pat' Solomons his team-mate who captained the side in the following year.

To describe his sublime batsmanship many adjectives had been used like delicate, refined, graceful, cultured, elegant, polished but I would have it in one sentence by stating he was the left handed Roy Dias.

His interest had been flared by watching the seniors like Sammy David, Percy Madugalle. T.B. Marambe, G.P. Schoorman of the batsmen and C. Dharmalingam of the bowlers. He had marvelled at Sammy David's daunting feats as an opening bowler but it had been Dharmalingam who had inspired him to be the first change bowler for Trinity. Dharmalingam, a spinner had even opened bowling for Trinity sixty years before Patel of NZ and he had bagged two hattricks, one in each innings of the Big Match of 1939.

Vernon was fortunate to have been coached by legendary Old Wesleyite, R.L. Kannangara when he was in his early teens, an age when correct technique has to be imparted, so instrumental in later years. RL would take a keen interest in the lad as they were both left-handers.

Plagued by ill-health, he played in only one match in 1939 under Bobby Schoorman but 1940 saw him crowned in glory. He was awarded the coveted Trinity Lion alongside his captain R.P. de Alwis.

The second accolade was also his. He won the Batting Prize, the treasured one, by virtue of his 71 not out Vs Wesley, 75 not out Vs STC and his 83 in the Big Match. Trinity played only five schools in those far off years.

Of greater validity than the runs he amassed was the manner of the making. His was a style of elegance and his impeccable dress code and poise imparted further lustre when he was at the crease. Vernon scored his runs at a clip but he confessed to me that it was made easy by the openers, Pat Solomons and M.K. Kannangara, the Laurel and Hardy pair as they were called, getting the show on the road.

The 1940 Trinity team was considered the precursor to the great Trinity teams of 40s which peaked in '46 with no less than five Lions being won by captain, C.N. 'Pittu" Schokman, S.B. Pilapitiya, Frank Sirimanne, Asoka Imbuldeniya and Mervyn Wanduragalle.

Club and Country were deprived of Vernon's cricketing talents as, with the Country on a War footing, he enlisted in the Army direct from school and later commanded the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Sinha Regiment to rise to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He played a little of Army cricket in the company of F.C. de Saram and then joined the Planting sector in 1946.

Before he retired as a Visiting Agent he was Superintendent of High Forest, Kandapola which has been considered as the plum posting and had as his Assistant Superintendents three sterling sportsmen in Ubaya de Silva who captained Royal cricket in '53, Kumar Gunasekera who played for STC and Jayantha Jayawrdena, the Trinity rugger Lion who captained the side in '61.

On retirement from Planting, Vernon was for five years in the Ministry of Plantation Industries as Consultant to the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority.

Vernon's staff of life over the years had been Indrani, daughter of Trinity's General Lion D.B. Seneviratne, the first Ceylonese to have been awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the 1st World War. Major Seneviratne had been one of the six Trinity school boys who went to the Front, the others being Albert Halangoda, Richard Aluvihare, A.A. Rudra, Drieberg and Jacotine.

Vernon was considered by Trinity as a very special son. When I last met him he displayed the inherent style and grace of the left-hander and I was treated to breakfast on the lawn. There can never be another meeting and breakfast.