Rupasinghe was a dynamic captain

Mervyn Edgar Rupesinghe who passed away recently was a basketball captain in 1963 of St. Benedict’s College.

Under Mervyn’s astute captaincy and dynamic leadership St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena became the worthy champions in the prestigious All Island Inter Schools under 16 Basketball Tournament defeating the strong and talented, St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya team under 16 team, in the final. at the St. Peter’s College, Courts at Bambalapitiya, which was only recently laid out, at that time.

Hence, in a magnanimous gesture, the Rev. Bro, Director during that golden era of sports in the Benedictine history, the kind-hearted Rev. Bro. Lawrence Justinian (who later became a Catholic Priest), spontaneously, gave the players and all expenses paid trip to Jaffna to play against the star studded basketball teams in Jaffna, which also included the highly renowned St. Patrick’s College and Jaffna Central College Teams.

The kind Priests and Rev. Brothers of the famous Jaffna Central College looked after the accommodation and full meals of the entire St. Benedict’s College under 16 champion team.

The invincible team which won the All Island Championships in 1963 under maestro, Mervyn Edgar Rupeesinghe were:

Mervyn Edgar Rupesinhe (Captain), Malsiri Perera, The Periira Twins, Brian and Noel, Rienzie de Silva, The Late Ray Croos Moraes, Benildus Perera, D. Perimpanayagam (Peri), Darryl Arnolda, Richmond de Silva, Herman Rodrigo.