Jayasena first Anandian to play for Lanka-by Althaf Nawaz Asoka Jayasena Source: Dailynews A player who had no grass root level involvement in rugby later turned out to be a one of Sri Lanka’s finest rugby players produced by Ananda College, Colombo was Asoka Jayasena who is the first Anandian to play for Sri Lanka Asoka hails from a sports loving family and lived in a neighbourhood in Minuwangoda. His father was Jayasena Pathirana while Vijitha Tennakoon was his mother. He is the eldest of a family of three including two sisters. His father served in the Sri Lanka Police representing Athletics team in 1960. His father’s elder brother G.P.Wimaladasa from Mirigama and uncle Charles from Gampaha were two popular figures in the sporting circles as both represented Sri Lanka at volleyball in the same era. Asoka enrolled at Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa to follow his primary education in GCE ...
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Hemantha Yatawara was a top class ruggerite, athlete and hockey player-by Althaf Nawaz Hemantha Yatawara Source:Dailynews The outstation schools played a pivotal role, especially in the Central Province by producing some quality players with a sound educational background. Hemantha Yatawara is no stranger to that category who was a robust player who engaged in several sports while reaching the pinnacle in the game of rugby. Hemantha Yatawara popularly known as ‘Yatta’ in the sporting circles hails from a family of six brothers and a sister. His father B.D.Yatawara was a former Sri Rahulian while mother Leela Dissanayake studied at Poramadulla Central Hanguranketha. Both his parents have stood as a pillar of strength in supporting him and Saman the elder and Udaya the younger brother throughout their sporting career from the childhood days, even though they were not from a sporting background. They were especially very supportive by feeding them with ...
Norman Silva the athlete turned ruggerite-by Althaf Nawaz Norman Silva A man renowned for good human qualities and sportsmanship, who ultimately ended up as one of the finest rugby players Sri Lanka has ever produced, who had never handled the oval shaped ball in his school career was Norman Silva. Born to a family in Nittambuwa, where his father Francis Silva, was a renowned businessman. While being the youngest member amongst his nine siblings including one sister, he hung up his Police uniform as a Deputy Inspector General after serving 38 years, from the time he joined as a Sub Inspector way back in 1982. Norman joined St. Anthony’s College, Wattala which was a prominent Christian school, where the game of Rugby was not very well established at that time. His elder brother Jerard Silva who was a leading athlete held the National record in discus throw which influenced Norman ...
