Joes felicitate Fairlie Dalpathado

by Supun Perera

St. Joseph's College, Colombo past cricketers association honoured and felicitated one of their finest products-Fairlie Dalpathado on 25th of August Friday at Aitken Spence Tower Restaurant, amongst a distinguished gathering.

Fairlie, excelled in both cricket and tennis and was a double international. He captained St. Joseph's cricket in 1942 and 1943 and in the latter year, the Josephians became undisputed schools cricket champions. After leaving St. Joseph's, he continued his cricketing prowess at SSC and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) with much distinction. His contemporaneous were such noble players that Sri Lanka has produced-Mahadevan Sathasivam, F. C. de Saram, Ryle de Zoysa, Malcolm Shittel, Vernon Prins and Lucien Zoysa to a name few.

Addressing the gathering the present St. Joseph's College cricket coach Harsha de Silva observed that he is unable to sum up in two or three verses of his tormentor. Sir you are noble to all of us and we were so fortunate to have a coach of your calibre next to express his views was cricket commentator Rohan de S. Wijeratne. You made me a liking for cricket. The discipline you inculcated amongst us on and off the field is simply remarkable. It is undisputed that you are the most revered guru of St. Joseph's College cricket.

Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe the Rector, in his speech mentioned that Fairlie Dalpathado had a true love and affection for his Alma-Mater St. Joseph's. "He was one of the few devoted cricket coaches whom I have ever come across." Rev. Fr. Sylvester commended Fairlie's noble gesture since he was residing at St. Joseph's during his tenure of coaching.

In his address, Dalpathado thanked the past cricketers association of St. Joseph's and the organizing committee headed by Dr. Rohan Fernando and Tony Gunawardena for their wonderful gesture. He wanted the young Josephian cricketers to emulate their exemplary seniors, since his trademark for success was emulating the senior cricketers such as Robert Fernando and D. S. Jayasundara.

Blessed with a firm determination and sense of dedication, day in and day out, Fairlie Dalpathado could be seen at the college cricket ground 'putting his charges' through their paces. His genial manner and ready instinct for the game won him the admiration of the cricketers and the authorities. His success as a coach is mirrored in the results achieved that we are all too well aware of.