Jayantha Fernando: gentleman and a sportsman

Christopher Jayantha Fernando was born to a wealthy family but he was a simple gentleman with much humility to all those who knew him. He grew up in Layards Road, Havelock Town where the family owned a fabulous home with a full size Tennis Court and Ballard Room, and the 4 car garage which housed a Cadillac, Jaguar, a Morris Oxford and a Morris Minor.

This did not get to his head. He took the trappings of life in his stride. In spite of his wealth Jayantha was a down to earth humble person. He had cars and chauffeurs at his beck and call, but he would prefer to come to school riding his bicycle.

Jayantha, Roy Jayasingha and myself were inseparable and we were known as the 3 musketeers. We went to school at the same time. Jayantha would ride his bike from Layards Road to Frankfort Place to pick me up and we would ride to the Railway Station to pick Roy who came from Moratuwa.

The three of us then get on this bike, one on the bar, one riding, and the other standing on the back cog wheel and when we saw a policeman approach we would jump off and abandon the bike and pretend to look at the buildings until the PC went past.

After school the three of us got on the bike and headed to Saraswathie Lodge for a coffee and a punt (cigarette).

There were days when we wanted to get out of school early without being noticed and Jayantha would ask the driver to bring the Jaguar to pick us up and we would pile in and lay on the floor board and drive out of the gates without the watcher noticing us.

The next stop was The Fountain Cafe for a good feed. When the bill came two us us went to the toilet while Jayantha would be left holding the bill!

I first got aquainted with Jayantha when we trialled for the under 14 cricket team. We became good friends and carried it through to under 16, 2nd eleven and finally 1st Eleven.

And that year 1955 under the leadership of Clive Inman we beat St Joseph's after 7 years. The team comprised of Clive Inman, Maurice Salgado, Jayantha Fernando, Brian and Maurice De Silva, Ken and Russell Duckworth, Lucky Serasinghe,Roy Jayasingha, Peter Ludowkye and R Saravanabavan.

As a sportsman Jayantha was Numero Uno. He was brilliant: he opened batting for St Peters's with my brother Brian; he was a excellent cover fieldsman; and went on to Captain the College team. Many a youngster learnt a lot from Jayantha.

I was a Rugby Union Player playing for St Peter's and one day I asked Jayantha and Roy Jayasingha whether they would like to play rugby, the answer I got was "We have no idea of rugby" I insisted that they train with me and they finally agreed: both were selected to play in the 1st Fifteen. I remember clearly in 1955 the game against Trinity at Bambalapitiya, I worked the bling side in our 25 and passed to Jayantha who sprinted 80 yards to score, but we lost the game 5-3.

Jayantha's favourite sport was tennis. He captained the school team and also won the Ceylon Junior doubles championships partnered by P S Kumara.

Jayantha was a humanitarian and looked after the poor: he would set out in the morning to distribute food to the homeless and be their friend, at time dispenser and at times their banker in need.

He was a true christian, a devout catholic and did all he could to improve the quality of life of those around him. The turf surely lies sofly on such fine people who enriched our lives. May his soul rest in peace

Maurice De Silva ,Brisbane, Australia