Ajith Abeyratne, the versatile sportsman of yesteryear passed away at the age of 75 bringing an end to one of the country’s illustrious rugby exponents of a bygone era.
Ajith Abeyratne
Known for his gentlemanly conduct on and off the field, Abeyratne was a Sri Lanka Number Eight, captained Trinity College and played for CR and FC at club level.
In later years he became well known for his coaching of the Sri Lanka team having also served as a Selector. He was the coach of St. Peter’s College in 1995 when the team won the all-island League unbeaten.
Abeyratne also represented Trinity in cricket, basketball and track and field events. But it was in rugby that Abeyratne made his mark and became a household name first as 15-year old and captained his school team in 1967 winning the Lion and the coveted Ryde Gold Medal awarded to the best all-round student in the following year.
The sportsmanship that Abeyratne displayed on the field brought him many accolades and made him a cut above the rest that he even went to the extent of ordering one of his Trinity team-mates to leave the field of play over unruly conduct in a rugby match against St. Peter’s College.
On the cricket field Abeyratne was second to none during his era and held the record for the fastest century made against Royal College that came in 69 minutes off 62 balls in 1968 at Asgiriya.
Abeyratne was an unshakable pillar at CR& FC from 1968 to 1974 and wore the Sri Lanka Elephant jersey representing the team with honour from 1968 to 1971.
As the Sri Lanka coach from 1985 to 1988, Abeyratne steered Sri Lanka to end as runners-up in 1986 and 1987 in the Bowl segment at the Hong Kong Sevens and was also the coach of the team at the World Rugby Sevens in Sydney in 1987.
In later years Abeyratne was the head of the Technical Committee of Sri Lanka Rugby.
A service was held for him at the Calvary Church at Mirihana, Nugegoda yesterday and his funeral will take place at the General Cemetery in Borella on Monday from AF Raymond funeral Parlour.
