Sportsman Ratnawibushana peacefully slips through life

Richard Dwight

On Sunday evening in the pleasing splendour of the Royal College Sports Complex, popular sportsman, Clifford Ratnavibushana, a loyal old boy of Kingswood College - experiencing ecstatic joy and happiness on sensing his school moving towards victory over Trinity in the rugby sevens finals - did take many by surprise, when all to suddenly he breathed his last.

In the twinkle of an eye, it was all over, for the 68 years old Clifford slipped through life peacefully, just the way he had lived.

It’s a death that many sportsmen dream of, but has come to be the preserve of the very best.

Moments before awarding the trophy to the victorious Kingswood team, 2 minutes silence was observed in honour of Clifford, a stalwart of Kingswood, who with unflagging zeal and zest served the greater cause and common good of his school.

His untimely death came as a rude shock, nay an irreparable loss to many.

At Kingswood in the late fifties he proved to be an outstanding sportsman, excelling as wicket keeper batsman at cricket and a speedy right extreme at hockey. As a graceful left handed batsman he was a prolific run getter and, his 168 scored in 1959 in the big match against Dharmaraja, still remains the highest for a Kingswood batsman.

He had the distinction of captaining the college cricket team and being as well its senior prefect, which made him a firm believer, that the classroom was complementary to the sportsfield, they were verily handmaids.

Clifford continued playing cricket and hockey for the BRC and the mercantile firms where he was employed.

A man of high moral fibre and endowed with an affable friendly disposition, he did find favour with his superiors and treated his subordinates well, as he worked at Carsons, Shaw Wallaces, Building Material Corporation and as a volunteer Flt. Lieutenant in the Air Force.

At the time of his demise he was CEO of Mike Flora Group of Companies, where he painstakingly served the cause of the company to ensure its progress - that has earned for him the esteem and high regard of its employees.

Apart from being the President of the OBU of Kingswood for a considerable period of time, wherein he gave it tone and direction - Clifford was also keen on being involved in humanitarian services.

This he achieved through the Y’s men’s club of Moratuwa of which he was a member for well over 25 years serving it in various capacities. He did go further afield to hold responsible positions in the Y’s Men’s International Sri Lanka Regional Board where at one time he was its Regional Director. Currently he was the chairman of the Organising Committee of Y’s Men’s Asia Area Convention to be held in July this year.

That which was characteristic of Clifford, was that he firmly believed, that it was deeds far more eloquent than words, that mattered most. He knew when to speak and when to withhold his speech, especially at committee and board meetings.

He spoke only if it was necessary, and when did he arrested the attention of the members.

As my mind dwells on, Clifford Ratnawibushana, I am reminded of Cardinal Newman’s definition of a “Gentleman who is one who does not inflict pain on another” which I believe is tailor-made for Clifford.

His wife predeceased him a little over a year ago, and is survived by his son Arith, daughter Aruni and grandchildren.

May his soul rest in peace.