Daya Jayasundera passes away

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports Corr

Death occurred on Tuesday in Kandy of former Kandy Sports Club, Police and Sri Lanka Ruggerite and rugby administrator, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Daya Jayasundera after a brief illness.

Late Jayasundera was one of the finest sportsman to come out of the portals of Dharmaraja College, Kandy and he represented the school at Boxing, Soccer, Athletics and Cricket. He was a fast bowler and a hard hitting batsman.

But he was destined to shine in a sport which he never played in school as Dharmaraja did not play rugby in the sixties.

His first contact with rugby was after leaving school with Kandy Sports Club where he care under the dozen of rugby coaches Maurice Perera who put him through his paces and moulded him into flanker, using the strong physique and natural skills.

He was a member of the 1969 Kandy Sports Club side led by late Major General Denzil Kobbekaduwa which entered the Clifford Club finals.

He joined the Police Force in 1971 at a time Sri Lanka was faced with its first insurrection. He was an automatic choice as a flanker for the Sri Lanka national rugby team.

He was also a member of the first police rugby team to enter the Clifford Cup rugby finals in 1972. He helped the police team to win many rugby titles and cups were a major force at local rugby at that time.

He also played for Sri Lanka against many foreign teams like Blackheath, Bosuns, British Lions, Paris University and also for the Low Country in the annual Capper Cup tie against Upcountry.

When his playing days were over, he did not take a break from the game and he took to the whistle. He was a much respected referee and won the praises of ruggerites and the rugby fans for the manner in which he handled the whistle.

He was also the Manager of the Sri Lanka Rugby team and also helped the police team at rugby in many ways. Above all he was a gentleman par excellence and loved by all who came in contact with him and his passing away takes away an officer and a fine gentleman.

His son Rajitha Jayasundera now based in Australia was a brilliant ruggerite at Royal college and represented the country as a schoolboy. He later played for CR and FC.

Late Daya Jayasundera comes from a Kandyan family living in Lewella with a brilliant sports background. Ananda played for Sri Lanka and was one time fastest bowler in the country. His brothers Upananda, Gamini, Late Parakrama and Senerath were all brilliant sportsmen.