Bilal to receive Royal’s highest award

AWARD: Royal College Colombo will hold its annual colours night today at Navarangahala commencing 5.30 p.m. The most prestigious award the Raba Gunasekera Memorial Fund Award will be awarded to the most outstanding rugby player in the year 2006 - Bilal Iqbal Hassan.

The award presentation will be done by Rohantha Peiris who led the 1978 Royal Rugby team in which late Raba Gunasekera was a member.

Most Outstanding Rugby Player 2006 - Bilal Iqbal Hassen, achieved three colours this year for swimming, waterpolo and rugby. National representation for rugby and waterpolo.

This year’s winner of the most outstanding rugby player ironically is the son of Raba’s contemporary in school Iqbal Hassen who played under-15 to 1st XV rugby with him. Bilal is a triple coloursman and the Raba Award winner this year.

The rugby colours will be presented by Rohantha Peiris the ‘78 Royal captain. This award is the biggest award in Royal College.

Most Outstanding Athlete 2006 - Sahan Hettiarachchi, one of the best throwers from Royal in the senior category and has been consistent in his performance. He was selected for this award on account of having been placed second in the discus and putt shot events at both the Senior Public Schools’ meet and the all-island National Schools Games.

Youngest Athlete Coloursman 2006 - Sachitha Bandara. Sachitha has been one of the most outstanding junior sprinters from College having excelled in the sprint events and long jump.

In the last two years, he moved on from 100 and 200 metres to 200 and 400 metres excelling in both events at Public Schools and National Schools Games. He was chosen to represent Sri Lanka Junior Athletic team at the Maldivian Games last year.

Raba belonged to the 1978, ‘79 and ‘80 rugby groups where Royal excelled in rugby during the golden 1970s. He played under Rohantha Peiris in 1978 and in 1979. He captained the college for a great victory to our rivals Trinity College.

He was also a fine athlete who achieved the Public Schools Colours in sprint events during the same era. He was a key member of the Royal College team who beat Dulwige College from UK in the 1979 and also represented Sri Lanka combined schools rugby team which beat Loughborough Grammer School who toured Sri Lanka the same year.

His contemporaries were Shane Pinder, Aunrey and Jann Tissera, M. Sally, K. D. Nanayakkara, Angelo Wickramaratne, Janaka Kiridena the cream of the rugby players in his era.

His team mates - Iqbal Hassen, Rohantha Peiris, Sujanthakumar, Haroon Musafa, Junaideen, Raheel and Epaarachchi finally ended up representing Sri Lanka.

Raba Gunasekera Fund was initiated by his loving wife Niromini, his parents Valentine and Rani Gunasekera and his colleagues from Royal 1978, ‘79 and ‘80 groups, well-wishers and family members.

Today this is the most prestigious/biggest award given by Royal College to the most outstanding rugby players and athletes. His memories linger around his colleagues who still talk about ‘Raba Gunasekera era’ with great pride.