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-RANJITH JAYASUNDARA-

1949 2021

PALITHA GUNASEKERA

It is with profound sorrow that I pen this appreciation on the recent demise of our charter
member PALITHA GUNASEKERA who was also the Charter Secretary of our sports foundation,
since its inception in 1996 to 2008. He also served as the President of the Col. Henry Steele
Olcott Sports Foundation in year 2014 & 2015 in the most astute manner and to the
satisfaction of all concerned.

That said, Palitha, having represented his alma mater - ANANDA COLLEGE - in cricket in all
age groups from 1960 to 1970 as a wicket keeper batsman, continued his love and
commitment for the game after leaving school too. He represented not only the NOMADS
sports club in the premier league-SARA TROPHY- for almost 20 years from 1971 to 1991, but
also the State Services cricket Association in the same period. During this spell he captained
the State Trading (Gen.) Corporation team, where he was employed and also the Sports
ministry cricket team.

The pinnacle of his cricket career was when Palitha was selected to tour India with the state
services team captained by D. H. De Silva in 1971, which included the likes of Aubrey Kuruppu,
T.B.Kehelgamuwa, Franklyn Burke and Daya Sahabandu. Palitha is considered as mentor of
Sri Lankan women cricketers and his valuable contribution in this regard is highly noteworthy
and praiseworthy to say the least. His tenure as head coach of PALINKS girls' school of cricket,
since 1998 and up to the time of his untimely death, was absolutely remarkable, having
moulded and brought to limelight five excellent women cricketers for the national side viz,
Sashikala Siriwardena, Chamari Polgampola, Sripali Weerakkody and Hashini Perera.

To top it all, Palitha won the united nations outstanding volunteer cricket award in 2012 for his
untiring voluntary services rendered towards the upliftment of underprivileged and
disadvantaged female cricketers throughout the island. Further, he was duly recognized by
the ICC as a cricket coach of international level, giving Palitha the rare opportunity of
coaching the women cricketers in Thailand, Nepal Malaysia, Singapore and Canada.
Amidst all these significant and wonderful achievements, with some more to come, it was
rather unfortunate and sad that a sudden heart attack at the age of 72 years, our faithful and
longtime colleague PALITHA GUNASEKERA had to change worlds, leaving a big void that
cannot be easily filled.

MAY HE ATTAIN THE SUPREME BLISS OF NIRVANA.

Jayantha Seneviratne
Charter Member / Past President

Col. Henry Steele Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation - 2021