Major Sarath Wijesinghe always had an angry look when he played rugby. I inquired why? “I played the game in an aggressive manner. Maybe that gave me that angry look,” said Sarath Wijesinghe in an interview with the Sunday Times. Sarath Wijesinghe – the boxer, athlete, rugby player and later rugby and athletics coach was [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

The then angry forward turned benevolent guru

By Rangi Akbar
Look out for my biography: Major Sarath Wijesinghe
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Major Sarath Wijesinghe always had an angry look when he played rugby. I inquired why? “I played the game in an aggressive manner. Maybe that gave me that angry look,” said Sarath Wijesinghe in an interview with the Sunday Times.

Major Sarath Wijesinghe

Sarath Wijesinghe – the boxer, athlete, rugby player and later rugby and athletics coach was on a brief visit to Sri Lanka from his adopted home in Sydney, Australia. He took the little time he had to train some athletes in Ananda and Rajasinghe MMV Hanwella during his stay.

I asked his reasons for leaving the Sri Lanka Army. “It is a sensitive issue. I am writing my biography. It will come out in a few days. Those who are interested can read all about it,” smiled Sarath Wijesinghe.

I tried to recollect the Sarath Wijesinghe that I knew when he played rugby for the Sri Lanka Army in the 60s. Obviously he had aged. He still had his rugged looks. His shoulders are still broad and his chest and arms still had all the strength of an ex-rugby player and athlete who keeps fit constantly.

Sarath hails from Galle and had attended Mahinda College in 1953. He switched to Ananda where his sporting abilities surfaced. He was a fast bowler and a middle order batsman who demanded quite a lot of respect. He was the college champion and record holder in the shot put, discus and the javelin throw. He was the junior national champion in these events.

Then came the big day when he joined the Sri Lanka Army under Colonel John Halangoda. His size and fitness level obviously drew him towards the rugby field and in no time he was a vital link in the Sri Lanka Army. He recalls that Sena de Sylva, Bertie Dias and Brigadier Ramanayake had a big hand in his rugby. He also recalls that former Sri Lanka rugby captain Y.C. Chang was one of his adversaries. “I never let Chang have his way when we played against Kandy SC those days. I would match his play man-to-man and Chang was always known for his explosive play on the field,” said Sarath.

Sarath Wijesinghe represented Sri Lanka at the 1956 Malaysian Asian Games in the javelin throw. He also remembers with great

Major Wijesinghe imparting his knowledge to the younger generation. – Pics by Amila Gamage

affection the help extended to him by former Daily News Sports Editor Carlton Seneviratne and former Daily Mirror Sports Editor Harry Jayawardena.

He is married to Claudette. “She is a very simple lady. My son Shane is involved in indoor and outdoor recreation in Sydney,” said Sarath speaking about his family.

Sarath captained Sri Lanka Army at rugby in 1968 after joining the Army in 1955 and picked up the game there like a duck taking to water. He excelled as a second rower and No 8. He also represented the Combined Services and Colombo Clubs.
He has come to Sri Lanka with a load of information for athletes and rugby players on long term sports development. The main objective is the development of physical capacities and fundamental movement skills. These he has classified them to various age groups classing them into various age groups.

According to Sarath for more than one hundred years scientists have attempted to describe physique characteristics of elite athletes with the objective of relating the physiques to athletic performances. Theoretically, the most successful athletes are those with appropriate structure to perform their events and Olympic or world championship athletes represent the optimum combination of genetic and environmental influence to produce maximum performance.

Sarath had a word of praise for Maj. Gen. Daya Ratnayake, President of the Sri Lanka Athletic Federation for giving him the opportunity to spread his message of talent identification and training methods to a large section of the public. He is also grateful to Mr. Ratnasuriya, Director of Western Province Education who helped him to conduct a one day seminar at Hanwella.

In conclusion Sarath says, “Retire gracefully when your time comes and takes an active role as coach or sports administrator.”




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