V. K. B. Ramanayake - versatile sportsman from down south

Premasara EPASINGHE

SPORTSMAN: V. K. B. Ramanayake is a versatile sportsman from down south. He was a cricketer, soccerite, athlete and a volleyball player. He is the oldest living cricket captain of Rahula College, Matara.

Rahula College, Matara was one of the leading Buddhist schools in the deep south.

It was started in 1923 and its first Principal was William de Silva (1923-1932).

He was followed by Dr. C. Amirthalingam (1932-1936). The late D. J. Kumarage's period from 1937 to 1956 was considered as the golden era of Rahula College. In 1940, Rahula College produced the best results in the SSC (Eng) Examination, in the island.

Tracing the history of Rahula, it was F. Gordon Pearce - a Britisher, who encouraged the Buddhists of Ruhuna and helped to start Rahula College.

In an era cricket was the game of the elite in Colombo, Rahula College, Matara, slowly and steadily introduced cricket in early 1920s.

There were some dedicated cricket coaches like L. B. Gunasekera, D. P. Atapattu and Dr. Attapattu of Royal College, who were responsible in promoting cricket at Rahula College at the inception.

V. K. B. Ramanayake's highest score was 77 not out against a Combined Colleges XI of Kandy, representing Trinity, St. Anthony's College, Katugastota, Dharmaraja. In the bowling department his best figures were 8 for 20, that too was against the Kandy Combined Schools team.

A notable feature of his school cricket career was that he represented two leading schools in the Matara district - namely Rahula College and St. Thomas College, Matara.

At St. Thomas College, Matara, he was coached by that great Major G. W. S. de Silva - a distinguished Richmondite. His athletics coach was Oswald de Alwis.

At the athletics meet in Matara in 1947, wherein reputed athletes participated, V. K. B. Ramanayake excelled.

At that time Sri Lankan athlete was the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Matara R. E. Kitto. He helped and guided VKB in athletics. At STC, Matara, he was a prominent member of the college cricket, soccer and athletic teams.

The years 1946 and 1947, he consecutively annexed the Best Allrounder Trophy in the field of cricket.

Besides being the centre-forward in the Thomian soccer team, he won the 2nd place in the one mile race conducted by the college in 1947. He was awarded Thomian colours for cricket, athletics and soccer.

Another notable feature in his career was that both years he played for St. Thomas College, Matara, they beat their arch-rivals St. Servatius College by an innings.

With his willy off-spin bowling V. K. B. Ramanayake, in the Big Match against St. Servatius College, Matara, captured 6 for 18 and 2 for 24 runs.

He was an outstanding slip fielder and the two-drop batsman.

V. K. B. Ramanayake was born on 20th May 1927. He started schooling as a tiny-tot at Sujatha Vidyalaya, a girls' school Matara. Later, their parents resided at Talawakelle and had his early primary education at the Government Bilingual School at Talawakelle.

In 1938, he entered Rahula College, Matara. For a brief period during the Second World War he attended Anuruddha College, Nawalapitiya from 1941 to 1943. Again, he proceeded to his old school Rahula College and passed the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSC) in 1946.

From his childhood, he was an active student and he loved sports.

As Rahula College, did not conduct University Entrance classes or Higher School Certificate Examination classes for students who offered Latin as a subject, he left and joined St. Thomas College, Matara.

V. K. B. Ramanayake is the second son of late V. K. V. Ramanayake and Mrs. Ramanayake. He hails from a highly respectable family. His father was the Korale Mahatmaya of Dimbulla Korale in the Nuwara-Eliya district.

Not only was he a sportsman, but also, social service worker. He taught English to the Buddhist monks attached to Maha Mathindananda Pirivena. Further, he was a supervisor of the Dahampasal Examination (Buddhist Sunday Schools).

After leaving school, he started his career as a teacher. He sought employment and was appointed as an English Assistant Teacher by the late Rev. George Mendis. His first appointment was at Urugamuwa Methodist Mixed School.

V. K. B. Ramanayake was married to Doreen Irangani Karunatilake. They have four daughters and a son. The daughters are Devamali, Teshani, Chulanganie, Geethanjali. His son Chithranjan Chandranath an Accountant in Australia attached to HSBC.

This 'elder statesman' from Rahula College, Matara, was the Guest of Honour in the Annual Members Day of the Matara Rahula College OBA Colombo branch held in Colombo on 17th December, 2005.

His sports career blossomed after, he joined the Ceylon Government Railway Department. In cricket he represented Railways in the Government Service Tournament ranging from 'A' to 'E' divisions.

He was a highly respected officer of the CGR. He served as a Station Master at Sravasthipura, Kandy (Station Master - Goods) and Colpetty, as Chief Station Master.

In 1987 he retired from the Ceylon Government Railways Department.