Remembering educationalist and sports enthusiast J.B.C. Rodrigo
View(s):J.B.C. Rodrigo was the Principal of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa from 1934 to 1959. He had his preliminary education at Royal College and ended up at Trinity College. He entered Training to become an English teacher. Later took up a post at his alma mater, Royal, as an English teacher. Later he joined S. Thomas’ College, to do the same duties as an English teacher. Additionally, he was the master in-charge of cricket. After about three years at S. Thomas’, he left to join Oxford University, Keble College to do classics and finally to become a barrister. On his return, he was offered the Principal position at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa in 1934, which he took up with delight.
His passion and love for cricket was so great, one of his priority tasks was to remove all barriers surrounding Prince of Wales College playground in order to make it a proper cricket ground and play ground to the students and suitable for several different sport activities.
Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa
His ambition was fitly rewarded. In 1935, Prince of Wales in the schools cricket season, played against several other schools, and won all the matches to finish off with an unbeaten record. His endeavour to develop the school was so instrumental, being involved in several structure developments. Even today they are visible. There were several old boys going through his hands, who held high positions in Ceylon. Professor Vernon Mendis, High Commissioner to United Kingdom and Secretary General at the 1976 Non Aligned Conference held in Sri Lanka, Ronnie de Mel, a civil servant and country’s longest serving Minister of Finance, Professor Herbert Aponso, civil servants Condrad Perera, V.S.M. de Mel and Shelton C. Fernando were among them. The last three held the then regarded highest esteemed post, as Secretaries, at the same period, amongst 12 others in the then government ministries.
Altogether unlike today, they were appointments on merit, after a competitive examination.
J.B.C. Rodrigo’s love for cricket was so great. In 1954 on a visit to the UK, he was honoured. He was made a member of the high powered cricket establishment, the Marylebone Cricket Club, the MCC, at Lords. He was also the President of the Schools Cricket Association for over a decade. His endeavours unearthed many great cricketers Prince of Wales, at a time when cricketers from the outstation schools had hardly any chance of donning the Ceylon cap. Amongst them were, H.I. Fernando, Stanley de Alwis, his son Lasantha Rodrigo, Anurudda Polonowita, D.S. de Silva, Stanley Fonseka, Nisal Senaratne, and Cecil Peiris. A passing but a unique happening must also be made to the fact that two of his pupils, M.E.C. Fernando and Lakshman Gomes were later principals of the same school.
His wife, now deceased, was Beryl Rodrigo and he had five children. Nirmali is 89, Ranjan deceased at 87, Lasantha is 86, Dharshani 83 and Ranil is almost reaching 80. Rodrigo died at 79 in 1978. He would have turned 125 on June 6 this year. His body rests at the Holy Emmanuel Church burial grounds.