Tribute to Stellar Thomian Athletes RV ‘Vijitha’ Jayasinghe & his Legendary Brother SK – By Ravi Rudra
One of STC’s Finest All-round Athlete
Vijitha Jayasinghe celebrates his 75th Birthday on 27th Nov 2023
Vijitha (Viji) Jayasinghe will be remembered in STC Athletics as one of the finest all-round athletes to have emerged in the mid-60s. In 1967, his final year, he was the undisputed champion at College for every single track event (excluding the hurdles). He was unbeatable in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m as well as long and triple jump. Such was his versatility.
1964 – Viji showed some early promise of his talent as a junior in 1964. In the inter-house meet he won the U16 – 800 m (2m 18.6s) and Triple Jump (38’ 2 ½”), while placed 2nd in the 400 in a tight finish. Few months later he switched events to do well in the dual meet against Trinity College winning the 100m, 200m and long jump for the U16 age group. Nevertheless, he was yet to unleash his potential at the national schools level.
1965 – Viji made great strides when he was inspired by his legendary eldest brother SK (Keerthi) Jayasinghe. As 16 year old, competing in the U19 age group at the 1965 inter-house meet, Viji came 2nd in the 800m won by SK in a new ground record of 2m 1.7s.
1965 Athletics Team (Seniors)
Front: Mr. B C. (Brookie) D’Silva (Coach), H.D.C. (Derek) D’Silva (Captain), The Warden (Rev. A.C. Selvaratnam), S.K. (Keerthi) Jayasinghe, R.F. (Rabin) Mendis.
Back: N.M. (Manilka) Wijesooriya, R.V. (Vijitha) Jayasinghe, S.D. (Sunil) Peiris, Johann. H. (Tiny) Reid, S.S. Condegama, S.K. Abeygoonawardene,
M.J. (Jabir) Junaid, L.M. Fernando.
1965 – “My elder brother S.K. Jayasinghe was a Super Star Athlete…I still remember the training I had with my brother when I was a 16-year-old in 1965. It was really tough, mainly the beach runs from Mount Lavinia to Lunawa, Dehiwela and back to College to build up stamina and endurance. It was followed up with wind sprints at College grounds to improve our speed.” – Viji
1965 Colombo South Zonal Meet
“BROTHERS TAKE THE TOP BERTHS”
“Into the final straight, KEERTHI JAYASINGHE transformed his relaxed run into a determined gallop. Breasting the tape first, he looked behind at the rest of the field – and blinked in disbelief as he saw younger brother VIJITHA follow him.
The congratulations and “well-done” pats from the Thomian supporters that clustered around the Jayasinghes was all for the younger one – for this was 16- year-old Vijitha’s first attempt in the 800 metres at a major meet!
Easily the best effort for the day came from Thomian middle distance man Keerthi Jayasinghe who clocked 2 min 3 secs to win the 800 metres final. In this event the winner’s brother, 16-year-old R.V. Jayasinghe too did exceedingly well to come second with a time of 2 min 5.4 secs, at the Colombo South Group Athletics Meet at Police Park.
Said coach Brookie D’Silva: “That boy is talented and has guts, but I have trouble with him because he wants to do everything the way his elder brother does.”
So, the Jayasinghe brothers will once more take the track together at the Public Schools meet next month (Oct 1965).”
A month later, at the 1965 Pubs, Viji was part of the 4x400m relay with brother SK, Manilka Wijesooriya and Senarath Condegama that finished a creditable second to Royal and were awarded Public School colours for their fine effort.
“S.K. Jayasinghe, R.V. Jayasinghe, N.M. Wijesooriya, SS. Condegama were awarded Ceylon Public Schools’ Athletics Colours. H.D.C. D’Silva, S.K. Jayasinghe, R.F. Mendis and M.J. Junaid were re-awarded School Colours
and R.V. Jayasinghe, N.M. Wijesooriya, SS. Condegama and S.K. Abeygoonewardene were awarded School Colours.”
1966 Athletics Team (Seniors)
Front: Mr. Brookie C. D’Silva (Coach), RV (Vijitha) Jayasinghe (Captain), The Warden (Rev. Selvaratnam), Manilka Wijesooriya, Sunil Peiris
Back: Hasitha Kannangara, Buddadasa Karunanayke, Johann (Tiny) Reid, Ajit Jayasekera, Ridley Fernando, Shanta Kottegoda
Absent: Ganesh (Gundo) Sanmugapalasoorier
Having won his Public Schools and College Colours in 1965 Viji was appointed as Captain for the 1966 season.
“Vijitha Jayasinghe was awarded the Best Performance Trophy for Seniors at the Inter-house Athletics Meet held in June… Jayasinghe also excelled at the annual dual meet with St. Joseph’s, held on their grounds. Running on an unfamiliar 300 metre track, he won both the 800 metre and 1,500 metre events easily.”
– Manilka Wijesooriya (Vice Captain, 1966)
At the 1966 Colombo South Meet Viji won the U19 – 800m (2m 4.5s).
Viji would then go on to finish 3rd in the 800m at the 1966 Pubs and help anchor the 4×400 relay team to victory and win Pubs Colours for a second consecutive year.
“V.M. Gunaratne of Peradeniya MMV finished second in the 800m after pipping Thomian Vijitha Jayasinghe at the post”
– Press Report
1966 Pubs: Taxila’s Subasena Silva who won the Senior 800m leads at the end of the first quarter, followed by Thomian RV (Vijitha) Jayasinghe. Silva won a very close and exciting race from V.M. Gunaratne (Peradeniya MV) & R.V. Jayasinghe (STC).
1966 Pubs – “Our Senior Sprint Quartet performed beyond expectations to come second in the 4x100m relay. When the meet culminated with the Quarter Relay (4x400m) excitement ran high as the result would decide the winner of the coveted Jefferson Challenge Cup. Special mention must be made of our captain Vijitha Jayasinghe, who sacrificed one of his events to be fresh for the relay, for this helped us greatly to win both the 4x400m relay and the Jefferson… R.V. Jayasinghe and N.M. Wijesooriya were re-awarded Public Schools Athletic Colours while A.N.C.W. Jayasekera and H.D.W. Kannangara were awarded Public Schools Colours.”
- Senarath Condegama (Secretary, STC Athletics 1966)
“We won the Jefferson (1st in the 4x400m and second in the 4x100m). I ran on both relays, For the 4x100m, it was self, Viji, Ganesh (Gundo) Sanmugapalasoorier, and Ridley Fernando. I am not sure where LM Fernando was. In the 4x400m, we had Ajit, Hasita, me, and Viji….The roar of the crowd as the winning anchor lap in the 4×400 meters relay was completed by Viji Jayasinghe at Police Park in 1966, will long live in my memory. We secured the Jefferson Cup by placing first in this race. The Tarbat Cup eluded us by some 3 points, but that is another long story.”
- Manilka Wijesooriya (Vice Captain, STC Athletics 1966)
1967
I (Ravi Rudra) had made my PUBS debut, as a 12 year old juvenile athlete, in 1966 under the captaincy of Viji Jayasinghe. The following year, 1967, during the Term 2 holidays, I had the privilege of being asked by Viji to be his time-keeper while he did many of his punishing schedules such as 200m run followed by 200m walk and jog. He repeated this set at least half-dozen times without any break demonstrating his superb work ethic, willpower, resolve and stamina. This was one of several demanding variations that he came up with during his training.
“R.V. JAYASINGHE IS BEST PERFORMER”
Therefore, it came as no surprise when a few weeks later he would win the Best Performance Award at the Colombo South Group Meet for his 400m win in 52.0s, beating Bandula Jayasinghe (who was to become a formidable 100m and 400m athlete in later years with CT & FC) and breaking the previous record held by the star Royalist, Darrell Lieversz. Viji also won the 800m in 2m 7.3s, 2nd in the Triple Jump and anchored both 4×100 & 4X400 relays to qualify for the Pubs.
Best Performer – Dual Meet
Couple of weeks later thanks mainly to an outstanding all-round performance by Viji, who won the 100, 400, 800 metres events and the Triple Jump in which he established a New Meet Record (41’ 4”), STC gained an exciting 7 points victory over Trinity in the Senior age group at their Annual Athletics Dual held at the Trinity College grounds, Asgiriya. Jayasinghe also helped the Thomians to win the two Senior Relays.
1967 Athletics Team (Seniors & Juniors)
Front Row (Seated): Mr. Brookie C. D’Silva (Coach), RV (Vijitha) Jayasinghe, Ajit Jayasekera (Captain), The Warden (Rev. A.C. Selvaratnam), Hasitha Kannangara, M. (Manilal) Pathmaperuma, Mr. E.C.K. Abeysekera (Master-in-charge).
Back Row: Yuvraj Sivalingam, Jaya Rudra, Sunil Wijeratne, Ajita Rajendra, JLC (Laksen) Salgado, M. Gunasekera, C.M. Gunaratne, Buddadasa Karunanayke, Azam Hameed, Dilsiri Dassanaike, Johnny Attygalle.
On The Ground: Rajpal Samarasinhe, Ravi Rudra, Jerome Speldewinde, Kelvin Speldewinde, Chulla Warusevitane.
The pinnacle of Viji’s athletics career was at the 1967 Pubs, winning the individual 400m and then running one of the greatest 4×400 anchor laps in the history of Public Schools relays. Running like a man possessed he cut down a massive lead and stormed home to breast the tape in fine style.
Viji’s crowning glory in a stunning display of guts and determination propelled STC to regain the Senior Tarbat Challenge Trophy for overall championship. This was the beginning of a golden era of STC Athletics.
Vijitha Jayasinghe in action
1967 Public Schools Championship
“Senior Tarbat for St. Thomas”
– by Louis Benedict, Ceylon Observer
“A memorable anchor lap in the 4x400m relay by lanky, long-striding Vijitha Jayasinghe piloted S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, to the coveted ‘Senior Tarbat’ at the Public Schools Track and Field Championships concluded yesterday at the Police Park. Hundreds of over-joyed Thomian Schoolboys chanted their College anthem and chaired the ‘Man of the Moment’ Vijitha after he dramatically breasted the tape first in the thrill- packed 400 metres relay. It was indeed a red-letter day for the Thomians for they regained the Senior and Junior Tarbats. Truly, a fantastic performance worthy of much praise.”
“Thomians Sweep The Board” – Times of Ceylon
“Thomians win Senior and Junior Tarbats” – Daily News
“The coveted Tarbat Trophy for the champion school at the Public Schools Track and Field Championships was won by S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, who beat St Joseph’s College to second place and the favourites Mahinda College to third place.
The Thomians also annexed the Junior Tarbat and finished third in the tussle for the Jefferson trophy for Relays. It was dogged bad luck that deprived the Thomians from the Jefferson trophy too. A dropped baton in the sprint relay, saw them out of the race. They, however, went on to win the 4x400m relay thanks to a superb last lap by their anchor-man R.V. Jayasinghe. Though conditions underfoot were atrocious and the weather rather gloomy the cream of our schoolboy stars gave quite a good account of themselves.
The Thomians deserve a big hand for their splendid showing at the 1967 Public Schools Track and Field Championships concluded last week at the Police Grounds. No one – other than probably, the die-hard Thomian supporters and their coach Brookie D’ Silva – would have expected to win both the Senior & Junior Tarbat trophies. More than the individual performances, it was their team that worked in one unit to bring them success.
Of course, one cannot refrain from mentioning names like that of R. Vijitha Jayasinghe who won the 400 metres. Finished second in the 800m (1m 59.7s), and then ran a superb anchor-lap for the Thomian 4×400 metres relay team.
This run of his reminded me of some of the superb anchor laps seen in the quarter relay at the Public Schools in the olden days like that of D.E.F.R. Wijekoon, who enabled St. Joseph’s to win with a grand run in the last lap in 1950. Francis Fonseka’s run a few years before that and Vivian Blaze’s run in 1948 which enabled the Thomians and the Josephians to tie for the Jefferson Trophy. Over the present decade I only saw one runner win a quarter relay from far behind for his school – that was S.K. Jayasinghe, the brother of Vijitha in 1965.”
– The Ceylon Daily News
4x400m Relay – 1st STC 3m 36.4s; 2nd Mahinda College; 3rd Royal
(STC Winning 4×400 Team: R.V. Jayasinghe, A.N.C.W. Jayasekera, H.D.W. Kannangara and B. Karunanayake).
Thomian Star Athlete Vijitha Jayasinghe who anchored his 4x400m Relay Team to a Memorable ‘Comeback-from-behind’ Victory at the 1967 Pubs!
Viji Jayasinghe seen here at Police Park grounds, prior to his superb run, with his cousin and ardent fan Asanga.
1967 PUBS CERTIFICATES
R.V. Jayasinghe (STC) 1st 400m (52.2s) & 2nd 800m (1:59.7)
*The ground conditions at Police Park were atrocious on both days of the 1967 Pubs due to heavy overnight rain which hampered the timings quite adversely, including Jayasinghe’s fine efforts.
*Viji won Public School Colours three years in a row and it must be mentioned that in both 1966 and 67 he sacrificed some of his personal individual events for the sake of team success.
In 1967 having come 2nd in the triple jump at the Colombo South Group meet Viji selflessly forfeited that event at the advice of his coach Mr.
Brookie D’Silva to focus on the 400, 800, and the two relays at the Pubs.
Viji had the talent and potential to get a top three place at the Pubs in the 1,500, long jump, triple jump, in addition to the 400 & 800, if he had not put the team goals before his own personal needs.
“We won the 1967 Tarbat thanks largely to Vijitha Jayasinghe. This was the greatest run I saw in my Pubs career. Our 4 x 400 team was, in running order, Buddhadasa Karunanayake, Hasitha Kannangara, self and Viji. We had to get at least the 3rd place in this event, to win the Tarbat. When I handed the baton to Viji, two other runners were way ahead and one of them was Kosala Sahabandu of Mahinda College, who came good the following year and later became an Asian Games Gold medallist in Teheran 1974. Yes, Viji scorched the track and beat them before he took the final turn.
Having handed over the baton positioned third, I was, in a way happy that we would win the Pubs, but this was a huge bonus. Not only did Viji win the event and the Tarbat for College, but we got Pubs colours with that timing. Police Park erupted with not only Thomian supporters but even others, cheering and carrying our Thomian Hero round the grounds.
It was the most incredible run I have seen in my life…. Mr Donald Speldewinde, a staunch Old Thomian and father of Kelvin & Jerome, who had predicted a victory to Mahinda College, was happy too. He gave us a princely sum of money of Rs.
50, it was a hell of a lot of money in those days, to go out and enjoy ourselves, which we did!! Viji was one of the greatest Thomian Athletes”
– Ajit Jayasekera
(STC Athletics Captain of the Pubs Tarbat Champions in 1967 & 68).
PS: Viji also played 1st XI cricket with me.
“A couple of weeks before the 1967 Pubs, I also broke the Triple jump record at the dual meet with Trinity in Kandy. I did not practice at all, I just went and jumped. Now I feel that I should have concentrated on that event as I could have done quite well.
However, Brookie was not keen about me participating in the triple jump since I was taking part in the 400m (which was my best event as I had broken Darryl Liversz’s 400 records at the earlier Colombo South Meet), 800m, 4x100m and 4 x 400m, both relays in which I was doing the anchor lap.
On the first day of the 1967 Pubs I ran the 800m and came a very close second, in a photo finish.
Mr. Donald Speldewinde, an old Thomian (father of Kelvin & Jerome) who was the Governor for Galle at that time had predicted that K.P. Sahabandu (Mahinda College) would beat me in the 400 metres event. Thankfully his predictions didn’t materialise as I won the event. I am also happy that Sahabandu in later years performed quite well for Sri Lanka, winning a Gold medal in the 4×400 relay at the 1974 Teheran Asian Games.
Soon after 1967 Pubs, coach Brookie D’ Silva told me that a Sri Lankan Schools Athletic Team would be touring India shortly and I would be Captaining the Team. I was really fit and in full form.
However, it was my bad luck that the meet got postponed to Feb 1968, and as a result I could not go as I was overage. I understand the team was subsequently led by a Royalist.
After the 1967 Pubs our cricket team went to Galle to play against Richmond. There was a dinner at the Galle Esplanade, Mr Speldewinde and Mr. W Dahanayake both were there, and they congratulated me on my performance. “
– Vijitha Jayasinghe
(STC Athletics Captain 1966, Public Schools Coloursman 1965,66 & 67)
SK JAYASINGHE
77th Birth Anniversary – 23rd Nov 2023
Champion Athlete S.K. (Keerthi) Jayasinghe
STC’S GREATEST MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNER
‘SK’ completed a rare double of winning the 800m & 1,500m at successive Pubs – 1964 & 65. Having helped STC regain the Senior Tarbat in 1964, after 11 long years, SK shattered the1965 Public Schools Records in both the 800m (1m 57.2s) and 1,500m (4m 9.6s). In the latter he broke his own record set in 1964 (4m 12.9s).
Few weeks before the 1967 Pubs he became the first schoolboy to break the 2-minute barrier for the event when he ran 1m 58.4s to win the 800m at the C.C.B. meet. Then at the Pubs he obliterated the previous 800m record by an incredible 3 seconds.
1965 Pubs – Thomian middle distance runner S. Keerthi Jayasinghe brushed away all opposition to win the much talked-of Public Schools 800 metres finals in a new record time of 1 min. 57.2 secs – smashing the record by 3 seconds – a record that stood unbroken for many years.
Thomian Keerthi Jayasinghe leading the field comfortably at end of the first lap in the 800 metres final, which he won in the new record of 1m 57.2s defeating his main opponent Taxila MMV’s K.S. de Silva who finished second in 2m. 0s.
The press reported, “By far the Best Performance at the Pubs came from Hunumulla Maha Vidyalaya’s K.S. Senaratne and Thomian S. Keerthi Jayasinghe. Senaratne’s fine 50-second-dead metric quarter will take a lot of beating. This was the same time returned by the National Champion in this event this year and was only two-tenths of a second outside the Ceylon Record set by Darrell Lieversz.
Jayasinghe scored a good distance double with records in both events. His sub- two-minute metric half on Friday was capped with an equally good 4 minute 9.6 sends in the 1,500 metres on Saturday. Had he completed in the Open Nationals these times would certainly have taken him to titles.”
One cannot but feel sorry that such a prodigious and elite athlete of the calibre of SK Jayasinghe missed out on STC Athletics captaincy in 1965 owing to the presence of another outstanding champion, Derek D’Silva, the reigning Pubs Discus Champion from 1963 and 1964.
For his superb exploits SK will also go down as the one of the greatest ever middle-distance runners in the history of Public Schols athletics.
May SK’s soul rest in eternal peace.
– Ravi Rudra
Brothers pays tribute to his legendary older brother
“My brother was a champion Athlete at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and was one of the finest Athletes to be produced by his Alma Mater. The crowning moment in his career was at the 1965, Public Schools Athletics meet. The media and the public expected a keen tussle between him and another (Taxila MV’s K.S. de Silva), in the 800 meters event.
The day before the meet , the media hyped the 800 meters event as a dual between the two, as both had clocked timings close to each other at a previous meet. The spectators too expected a close contest, but my brother led the field from the start and brushed the tape first, in a new public school’s record of 1 minute 57.2 seconds and became the first schoolboy to run the 800 meters under two minutes at the Pubs. His opponent had to concede victory to the easy striding, lanky tall middle-distance runner from Mount Lavinia.
My brother’s path to success was mainly due to his dedicated training schedule. His vigorous training paid dividends and I recall his training included daily beach runs from Mount Lavinia to Lunawa and Dehiwela and back, training in college grounds and most importantly training in hill country terrain. This gave him the much-needed endurance, confidence, and tactics to compete at the highest level to be a champion. According to medical literature, training at high altitudes, changed the physiology in the body to benefit at competitions in lower terrain.
On the second day of the 1965 Public Schools Meet, SK set another Public Schools record in the 1500 meters event, clocking 4m 9.6s. Soon after he was offered a career in planting and Sri Lanka lost a great Athlete who could have excelled at National and International level.
As a 11-year kid , I was fortunate to witness both these championship record- breaking runs. Though he is no longer with us now, I still have fond vivid memories and wish will meet again in this sojourn of samsara.”
– Vasantha Jayasinghe
“My elder brother S.K.(Keerthi) Jayasinghe was a legend. He broke two Public Schools records in 1965 in the 800m and the 1,500m. He was the first schoolboy to go under the 2-minute barrier in the 800m and he also anchored the 4 x 400m relay team…[*The two brothers SK & RV also excelled by winning the Senior & Junior cycle races at the Inter-House Sports Meet in 1963]. It was great fun with four rounds of cycling at the college big club grounds. SK had a bike while I didn’t. I borrowed SK s bike after his event and took part. I also borrowed Donald Perera’s bike in the following years and won the Senior cycle races too. It was our Athletics training that mainly helped us win the cycle races… His passing away at a very young age was a great shock to all of us. He was a gentleman above par, and he assisted many people in need.
May SK attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.”
– Vijitha Jayasinghe
“The 1965 Public Schools meet will be remembered as Jayasinghe’s personal Triumph! Not only did he win in record breaking times in his two pet events, but bore the brunt of the 4×400 metres relay as well as running in the 4×100 metres as substitute. He will go down as one of our greatest schoolboy athletes. The time of 1 min. 57.2 secs, for a Ceylon schoolboy compares favourably with the sub 4 min. mile run by Roger Bannister. Such things are not achieved with ease in the field of athletics. They are just rewards of arduous training …. When the body is goaded on to superhuman efforts by a mind with one objective …. and unwavering self- discipline.”
– College, Athletics Report
Rabindranath Mendis (Secretary, 1965 STC Athletics)
RV with his brother and mentor SK (left) at his Estate Bungalow in 1970.
Vijitha the Cricketer
* Viji was a promising cricketer from his junior days having opened the batting and bowling for the U14 team. He later captained the STC 2nd XI cricket team during the 1966/67 season as an all-rounder who opened the bowling and as a left-handed middle order batsman.
Prior to leaving College at the end of 1967 he also played 1st XI under the captaincy of Dennis Chanmugam.
From 1968 to 1975, he played for Sri Lankan Airlines as an opening bowler and batted in the top order, either at No: 4 or 5.
Fond Cricket Memories of Viji from his days in Oman
Between 1975 to 1977 he played for the Oman Aviation team in the Sultanate of Oman, as an opening bat and opening bowler. Then from 1977 to 1980 he opened the batting and bowling for the Sri Lankan ‘Sinha’ Team, consisting of Sri Lankan players and one local Omani.
Viji returned to work again in Oman between1986 and 1993. Until the age of 45, he once again played as an all-rounder. During his long stints in Oman he captained the Sinha team for several years and led them to victory in local cricket competitions against some stiff competition from teams packed with strong expatriates.
Skipper of Sri Lankan Club Team ‘SINHA’ in Muscat, Oman that won the knock out Cricket tournament in 1988.
‘SINHA’ – winners of the Oman league cricket tournament in 1989.
1995: 47-year old Viji displaying his soccer skills while playing for Lufthansa vs. an Invitation Team in a Soccer tournament for the Freight Forwarders in Sri Lanka, at the CR&FC grounds, Colombo.
Vijitha Jayasinghe completed an illustrious 50-year career in the airline industry from 1968 to 2018 with the same endurance and excellence he displayed on the track.
Vijitha Jayasinghe and wife Mihirie – honoured as Chief Guest at the Lower-School STC Sports meet held on 15 June 2001.
1966 STC Athletics Captain, RV Jayasinghe
Flanked by his Coach, Brookie D’Silva & Warden, Rev. Selvaratnam.
“Mr. Brookie D’Silva was a Super Star and a True Legend, who coached and mentored so many Thomian Athletes for two decades. He had mastered the ‘Art of Coaching’ in every event, whether it was Track or Field. Over the years, thanks to Brookie, the Thomians were at the forefront of winning many meets including the Tarbat and Jefferson Trophies at the Public Schools Championships. He had the special knack of picking potential young athletes, guiding them, and getting across the finer points for them to perform well in their events. He moved very closely with the athletes in charting their training schedules and helped them to constantly seek improvement in their performances.”
– Vijitha Jayasinghe
“Thank you Viji for the great memories and your friendship. You shall be forever remembered by your team mates not only as an outstanding athlete, but more importantly as a gentle and caring human being who carried his sense of responsibilities and leadership with typical Thomian grit, perseverance, dedication, grace and humility.
Congratulations on your Special 75th Birthday and wish you and Mihirie the Very Best of Health, Peace and Happiness”.
– Ravi Rudra (STC Athletics 1963-64, 66-72, Captain ’71)
