Conroy Ievers Gunasekera was one of this country’s outstanding sportsmen – shining in cricket and tennis at his school, Royal College, and later with the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), the Mercantile Cricket Association, and finally for Sri Lanka, then Ceylon.
C. I. Gunasekera passed away on Thursday, July 29, after a brief illness. He was cremated the same day, according to his wishes. He celebrated his 90th birthday just two weeks earlier, on July 14. The funeral took place at the Jawatte Cemetery, Colombo.
His beloved wife Doreen predeceased him by three years. He leaves his only child, Chrisantha, who lives in the UK with his wife, Jamila, and children Sara and Adam. His nephew Lionel Gunasekera had been looking after him after Doreen passed away.
A diehard Royalist, C. I. Gunasekera survived to celebrate the 175th anniversary of his alma mater.
Relations, friends and members of the cricket fraternity, were present at the Jawatte Cemetery to say goodbye to the affable C.I., who lived with honour and died with dignity.
The present writer was privileged to watch C. I. Gunasekera wield the willow in some of his finest moments in club cricket and for Ceylon.
C.I.’s explosive batting bludgeoned into submission many an international attack. One of his victims was Lindsay Kline, the Australian spinner, in a game played in 1961 at the P. Sara Stadium. He smashed Kline for three sixes in one over, successfully denting Kline’s international career.
Former national cricket captain Mike Tissera, who was one of the mourners at the funeral, was at the non-striker’s end to witness C.I.’s onslaught at that historic match.
Tissera said it was an honour to have played with CI.
“I learned a lot from him,” he said. “He was a role model for the younger generation of cricketers. When he was on song, cricket was at his feet. The spectators loved his batting. He was a skilled all-rounder, in the mould of Aussie leg spinner, Bruce Dooland. He undid many a batsman with his crafty bowling. He was a player with very human qualities. He could be soft as a petal, when the occasion called for gentleness.
“There are special people who are considered ordinary people endowed with extraordinary gifts. CI was one of them. He was by his beloved wife’s side throughout her prolonged illness. He showed great courage and spirit to the end.”
Mahes Rodrigo, a double international in both cricket and rugby, was one of C. I. Gunasekera’s teammates at the SSC and playing for the national team. “The cricket aside, C.I. had fine human values,” said Rodrigo, paying tribute to the cricketing great. “I played with him for the Commonwealth XI against England, led by Nigel Howards, at the P. Sara Stadium.
The blond legendary all-rounder Keith Miller was on the side that year. CI and Keith controlled the hitting. Both batsmen were hitting into the 90s. Keith failed to make it, while our local hero CI forged ahead to get his golden ton.”
Keith Miller was applauded for the splendid support he gave CI in that famous match.
Following the late Vernon Prins, C.I. captained the national team. He was never power-hungry. He always put country before self. He always served the game for the right reasons on and off the field.
C.I. will be remembered for as long as cricket is played.
May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana. |
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