eLanka

Wednesday, 29 Oct 2025
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • Weekly Events and Advertisements
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Newsletter
  • eLanka Weddings
  • Property
  • eLanka Shop
  • Business Directory
eLankaeLanka
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • Weekly Events and Advertisements
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Follow US
© 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Home » Blog » Articles » Double International Rohan brought honour and fame to Sri Lanka-by Althaf Nawaz
Articles

Double International Rohan brought honour and fame to Sri Lanka-by Althaf Nawaz

eLanka admin
Last updated: December 29, 2021 6:23 am
By
eLanka admin
ByeLanka admin
Follow:
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

Double International Rohan brought honour and fame to Sri Lanka-by Althaf Nawaz

Rohan Gunaratne

Rohan Gunaratne

Source:Dailynews

St.Benedict’s College, Kotahena is one of the leading Catholic schools in the country  which has produced some quality yesteryear players, who donned the National jersey in several sports at International level. Gaston Rohan Gunaratne was one of them who made his ‘Alma Mater’ proud by representing the country in Basketball and Rugby.  

More Read

The Kandy Esala Perahera (Sri Lanka’s Timeless Festival of Faith and Heritage)
Jaffna Shines on the Global Stage: Named Among Lonely Planet’s Top 25 Best Places to Visit in the World for 2026
What are the Differences Between Green and Brown Environments?” – By Sunil Wimalawansa

Rohan hails from a sports loving family  His father is late Basil Gunaratne from Kalutara who served in the Health Department while his mother was Rosebell Gunaratne from Mutwal. Being the eldest in the family he has three brothers Philip, Keerthi and Jayantha while the sister is Basilda.  

 

All three brothers excelled in sports while his younger brother Keerthi represented the Sri Lanka cricket team. Rohan started his school career with Holy Cross College, Kalutara and went to De La Salle College, Mutwal and later moved to St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena from grade eight onwards. When he was living in Mutwal there was a Basketball court built by the De La Salle College where Rohan played with other children. Late Rev. Bro.Edwin Ambrose was instrumental in building the courts which later encouraged many children from that area to get into Basketball. With his height he was chosen to play for St.Benedicts College team from the under-13 age category to senior level. He went on to Captain the Sri Lanka Schools Basketball team in 1971 and while   being a schoolboy  he  represented the senior National  

team in 1970/71 season at the age of 17 years. Cosmos Perera Malsiri Perera Percy Perera Rienzie de Silva, Noel Perera Vivian Saverimuttupulle, Dr. C Thurairaja, Late Gen.Rohan Daluwatte, Royden de Silva, Nemantha Hatharasinghe, Kumar Bastian pillai and Duncan Jayawardena were some of his colleagues  in the National side and his career spanned over a decade. His mentor in Basketball at school was Ram Sundaralingam who played a pivotal role in grooming him as a quality player.  

Apart from this, he was also an Athletic Champion at school in the Inter House Sports meet in the under-19 age category. Rohan has an interesting history in getting into the rugby arena. As a prominent Basketball player he used to attend practice under coach Ram. He also had a liking for Rugby and attended practices one day quitting Basketball. Noticing his absence, Ram the Basketball coach, reported him to the brother Rector, who summoned him and advised him about the   risk of playing rugby, especially the injury side of it and he heeded his advice and decided to quit finally. But in 1972, which was his last year in College he completed the Basketball season and joined Rugby under the coaching of Raja Sahabandu, where he played as a second row forward under late Lalith Edirisinghe’s captaincy.  

Soon after he left College he joined the Sri Lanka Air Force to play Rugby and Basketball. His rugby coach was late Air Chief Marshal Harry Gunathilake  with Victor Jayaraj being the Basketball coach there. He played for them in the 1972 and 73 seasons in both sports before joining CH and FC in 1974 where Y.C. Chang, Harindra Gunesekera, Bryan Baptist, Upali Vithanage, Baratha Hegoda and Saman Jayasinghe were  some of his team mates.  

 

He engaged himself in two seasons with them and in 1976 he wore the Police uniform as a sub Inspector. From then until 1986 he was a regular player in both forms of sports. He had the opportunity of playing with some top class players in both sports where Police remained undisputed champions.  

His first skipper there was    flanker R.P.Linton He was a member of several champion sides in Police where he later went on to lead them in 1983, winning several championships. Due to his unstinted performance in both sports he was awarded the ‘Sportsman of the year’ on four consecutive occasions, which is a rare feat by any sportsman. Mohan Sahayam, Mohamed, Azain Gamini Fernando, Anton Benedict. M.A.Majeed and late Daya Jayasundera were his  coaches.  

He made his Sri Lanka debut in 1978 with the National team at the Rugby Asiad in Kuala Lumpur and went onto play in Rugby Asiads 1982  (Singapore),  1984  (Japan),  1986  (Bangkok) where he captained the side.

In 1983/85 played in the Hong Kong sevens and captained the side in 1985. He also led the Sri Lanka team on the tour of Hong Kong and Taiwan in 1985 His coaches were   Kavan Rambukwella, Summa Navaratnam, Jeff Ratnam, Ajith Abeyratne and GamIni Fernando at the National Level.

After hanging  up his boots in 1986 he started coaching his school St.Benedict’s for five years. He also coached the Sri Lanka National sevens team  at the Hong Kong, Singapore sevens and Malaysian sevens respectively. He also served as the Manager of the Sri Lanka National Men’s team and under-19 team.  He retired from the rugby arena after serving a decade with Sri Lankan Rugby as an Executive Director.  

His wife Srimani Gunaratne  is the sister of former Havelocks player and President Lal Silva.  His Son Lakshitha Gunaratne who captained St.Joseph’s College team in 1999 represented  the Sri Lanka under-19 team at the Youth Rugby Asiad.

More Read

World Bank Report: Sri Lanka Among South Asia’s Most AI-Exposed Economies, Driven by Skilled Workforce
Going Back to Sri Lanka? Ship your Household Goods in a Shipping Container ! From anywhere in the United States We have the lowest prices in town!Going Back to Sri Lanka? Ship your Household Goods in a Shipping Container ! From anywhere in the United States We have the lowest prices in town!
WCIC’s 40th Anniversary Celebrations Continue with Empowering Future Female Entrepreneurs Workshop

 

TAGGED:Baratha HegodaBryan BaptistHarindra GunesekeraSt. Benedict's CollegeUpali VithanageY. C. Chang
Share This Article
Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Musical instruments – Tamil heritage- BY DR. SUBASHINI PATHMANATHAN
Next Article N.K.Ratnayake N. K. Ratnayake-cricketer, athlete and tennis coach-by Upananda Jayasundera
FacebookLike
YoutubeSubscribe
LinkedInFollow
Most Read
10 Pictures With Fascinating Stories Behind Them!

“A PICTURE SPEAKS A 1000 WORDS” – By Des Kelly

Look past your thoughts so you may drink the pure nectar of this moment

A Life Hack for when we’re Burnt Out & Broken Down – By Uma Panch

Narration of the History of our Proud Ancestral (Orang Jawa) Heritage. by Noor R. Rahim

eLanka Weddings

eLanka Marriage Proposals

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News- By Noel Whittaker

EILEEN MARY SIBELLE DE SILVA (nee DISSANAYAKE) – 29 September 1922 – 6 April 2018 – A Woman of Value an Appreciation written by Mohini Gunasekera

K.K.S. Cement Factory

Dr.Harold Gunatillake’s 90th Birthday party

Sri Lanka's women's cricket squad in Melbourne

Cricket: Sri Lanka’s women’s squad in Melbourne

- Advertisement -
Ad image
Related News
Articles

Sri Lankan parliamentary delegation visits UK to strengthen bilateral ties

Articles

Sri Lanka, Australia enter into bilateral agreements on external debt restructuring

Victoria teaching careers, Teach the Future campaign, Victorian Government education incentives, multicultural teachers Australia, Sri Lankan teachers in Victoria, teaching scholarships Australia, employment-based teaching degree, earn while you learn teaching, teacher career progression Victoria, Minister Ben Carroll education, Cindy Huynh teacher story, Victoria Zivave Zimbabwe teacher, multicultural education Victoria, become a teacher Australia, Victorian Department of Education, teaching jobs for multicultural communities, teaching pathways Victoria, education careers Australia, diversity in Australian schools, rural teaching placements Victoria, teaching leadership roles, teacher mentoring Victoria, Victorian Education State, public school teaching Victoria, Australian teaching opportunities, education scholarships Victoria, teacher support and training programs, Sri Lankan community in Victoria, teaching careers for migrants, inclusive classrooms Australia, teach the future Victoria campaign
Articles

Victoria calls on Sri Lankan communities to shape the future of Australia

Drums of Kandy sung by Siera Keyt-eLanka
Articles

Drums of Kandy sung by Siera Keyt, Written by Dodwell Keyt

Sri Lanka Crowned Home of South Asia’s Fastest Man and Woman After Record-Breaking Wins in Ranchi
Articles

Sri Lanka Crowned Home of South Asia’s Fastest Man and Woman After Record-Breaking Wins in Ranchi

  • Quick Links:
  • Articles
  • DESMOND KELLY
  • Dr Harold Gunatillake
  • English Videos
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sinhala Videos
  • eLanka Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Tamil Videos
  • Dr. Harold Gunatillake
  • Sunil Thenabadu
  • Sinhala Movies
  • Trevine Rodrigo
  • Tamil Movies
  • Michael Roberts

eLanka

Your Trusted Source for News & Community Stories: Stay connected with reliable updates, inspiring features, and breaking news. From politics and technology to culture, lifestyle, and events, eLanka brings you stories that matter — keeping you informed, engaged, and connected 24/7.
Kerrie road, Oatlands , NSW 2117 , Australia.
Email : info@eLanka.com.au / rasangivjes@gmail.com.
WhatsApp : +61402905275 / +94775882546

(c) 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.