Daya Jayasundera cremation today
Hafiz Marikar
Former Dharmaraja College, Kandy, Police and Sri Lanka sportsman Daya
Jayasundara makes his last journey today, Saturday.
His remains lie at Jayaratna Mal Shalawa Borella and will be taken
for cremation at 4.30 pm at Kanatte.
He passed away on Tuesday night.
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DIG Daya Jayasundara |
A charming personality Daya at the time of his death was 67.
Daya as he was known among his friends, played cricket, football,
hockey and was also a fine athlete and a top class boxer. After leaving
school in mid 1960s, he joined Kandy Sports Club and played under
Y.C.Chang in 1968.
Some of his team mates were Jayantissa Ratwatte, George Jayasena,
Chang Faa Ching, Lakshman Samarawijaya, Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Deepal de
Zoysa and G Piyasena.
It was at Kandy Sports Club that he first played rugger, as a school
boy at Dharmaraja College In 1968 during the Police-Kandy SC at
Nittawella, Police rugby Chairman Rudra Rajasinghe spotted Daya and
invited him to join the Police. At that time Maurice Perera was the
coach of the Nittawella club.
So, from Kandy Sports Club he joined the Police as a Sub Inspector
and rose up to be a DIG. He first played for Police in 1969 under S.
Sivendren, and later under Abdul Majeed, Anton Benedict, Nizam Hajireen,
R.M. Laffir. He led the Police in 1974. He played for Kandy SC as a lock
forward and for the Police as a flanker and played till 1976. He was
famous for his cover defence and gave his best for the Police team in
rugger, cricket, football, hockey, athletics and boxing. In 1972 under
Y.C. Chang he played in the Rugby Asiad held in Hong Kong, and also
played against visiting British Lions, Bosuns, and Blackheath, Paris
University. Daya also managed the Sri Lanka team on several occasions.
After giving up the game he coached the Police team for few years and
also was top class referee. Has blown in Cup finals, in the Hong Kong
Sevens and Asiad. His death is an irreparable loss to rugby. He leaves
his wife Badhra and three sons. His youngest son Rajith led the Royal
College side. Daya played the game like a true sportsman.
May he attain Nibbana. |
