The Peterite connection with Police rugby
RUGBY: It was Rudra Rajasingham, the Trinity College and CR & FC
rugby stalwart who in his address as the Chief Guest at the Annual Inter
House Sports Meet of St Peter’s College in 1984, when he was the
Inspector General of Police, who lauded the contribution made by former
Peterites to Police sports in general and Police rugby in particular
making special mention of former Police rugby captains Terry Williams,
Muni Gomes and S. Sivendran who did yeoman service for the advancement
of Police rugby.
Even though students from St. Peter’s College did not join the Police
in large numbers, those who joined made an indelible mark in the Police
in which ever the field they chose.
Leading the list was R.A. Stork, A six foot rugby forward who joined
as a Sub Inspector and earned quick promotion to the rank of Assistant
Superintendent by passing an exam and was based in Colombo. He retired
prematurely and migrated to Australia.
Along with him in the Peterite rugby team of 1940 and 1941 was Anton
Joachim, a stylish fly half who too joined the Police as a Sub Inspector
after a short stint in the Navy. He rose to the rank of Senior
Superintendent and now lives in retirement in Battaramulla.
Leslie “Letcho” Ephreums too comes from a family of Peterite
ruggerites, his younger brothers being Conrad and Desmond, Letcho too
joined the Police as a Sub Inspector having served in the Navy for a
short period and retired as an Inspector before migrating to Australia.
He captained the Police rugger team in 1957.
Terry Williams, a fine fly half who captained St. Peters in 1953
joined the Police as a Sub Inspector and went on to captain the Police
team in 1959 when police won the Affiliated Clubs Rugby tournament
defeating Army, Navy and Royal Air Force as these teams were not
permitted to play in the Clifford Cup tournament. He was also the
Secretary of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union in 1981 and retired as
Superintendent of Police.
Muni Gomes, a six foot forward joined the police in 1957 as a Sub
Inspector, captained the Police in 1964 and retired as Deputy Inspector
General of Police.
S. Sivendran joined the Police in 1958 as a Sub Inspector and played
as a hooker. He captained the Police in 1963, 1966, 1967 and 1969.
In 1967 under his captaincy Police entered the Clifford Cup finals
for the first time in history. He was also a referee and later became
the Secretary and President of the Referees Association. He was also
Secretary of Police Rugger and Director Police Sports for several years.
He coached St Peter’s College under the captaincy of Rohan Ekanayake
in 1987. He retired as Senior Superintendent of Police.
Lakshman Jayawardene, a lanky centre three quarter from St Peter’s
joined as a Sub Inspector. He retired as a Deputy Inspector General.
Ajith Samarasekara too joined the Police as a Sub Inspector and left
the Police early. Later two prop forwards from College Cecil Perera and
Robin Fernando joined the Police as Sub Inspectors and Cecil Perera is
still in the Police as a senior Superintendent. But Robin Fernando met
his death early in the brave performance of his duties whilst serving in
the Special Task Force.
Chinthaka Perera who was vice captain of the 1987 Peterite team
joined the Police as Sub Inspector and went on to captain the Police
team in 1990. He is now a Chief Inspector in charge of Minuwangoda.
Retired Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Merril Gunaratne,
an old Peterite who joined the Police as an ASP was Chairman Police
Rugby during the nineties.
Nimal Leuke, Deputy Inspector General of Police and the present
Commandant of the Special Task Force and the President of the Sri Lanka
Rugby Football Union, even though not an old Peterite coached the
Peterite rugby team in 1994 to reach the finals of President’s Trophy
for the first time under the captaincy of Roshan Alles.
Another famous Peterite Percy Perera coached the Police rugger team
in the early sixties during its formative years.
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