Goonewardena rewarded

AWARD: Lakshman Goonewardena an outstanding allround sportsman was richly rewarded and honoured by his Alma Mater St. Joseph’s College at the sports awards night at the Hilton recently.

Goonewardena took to rugby, swimming and karate in school and excelled. In rugby he played under Rohan Jayatilleke. He represented the school in Public School swimming meet and later won a black belt in Karate.

On leaving school he took to tennis and captained the Kotahena Young Men’s Association and was also its President. He was also a member of the Otters Swimming Club and represented the club in water polo and tennis.

Goonewardena has been a live wire at his old school and has helped them go places. He was vice president of the OBU for eight years. Chaired many committees at the school. Was a Vice President of the College sports club. Past patron of Colombo Hockey Association. He also served Patron of Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena and chaired many of its committees.

Goonewardena who is also a keen cricket fan sponsored the Joe-Peterite 50 over game for 10 years. He has also sponsored tournaments conducted by the Sri Lanka Lawn Tennis Association. In addition to playing and serving sport, he has been a social worker and during the 1983 riots, he gave shelter to the displaced.

Sportsmen, benefactors, promoters and sponsors of sport of the calibre of Goonewardena are hard to find.

The accolades that came Goonewardena’s way at the ceremony was rich reward.