Death of 'Flying Athlete' Upali Gooneratne

Appreciation: Known as the 'Flying Athlete', 93-year old Upali Gooneratne, who was involved as a competitor and then as an official, passed away and his cremation took place yesterday (Saturday) at General Cemetery, Kanatte amidst a large and distinguished gathering.

Whilst a student as St. John's College, Panadura, the late Upali Gooneratne first started off as a high jumper, but later took to the track, coached by the late Earl Van Cuylenberg and was an outstanding sprinter. He played cricket for St. John's from 1929 to 1933 and later turned out for Panadura Sports Club too. He also engaged in Tennis and Soccer too at school.

The late Gooneratne joined the Rubber Control Department in 1935 and won five trophies at their annual athletic meet and won the 100-yards event in the Government Services Meet for 15 consecutive years - some what a world record. At the 1938 Government Services Meet, the late Gooneratne established a new All-Ceylon record in the 100-yards in 10.1 seconds.

He won the national 100-yards title first in 1941 beating the Bombay sprinter Tony Speldewinde and again in 1943. He also ran for Ceylon at the 1940 Indo-Ceylon Meet and was responsible for his country winning the 4 x 100 yards Relay. Some of his contemporaries were: Duncan White, R. E. Kitto, Alex Obeysekera, Summa Navaratnam. Dr. H. M. P. Perera, Sathi Coomaraswamy, Raju Coomaraswamy, Stanley de Livera and Shirley Illesinghe to name a few.

The late Gooneratne was attached to the Prisons Department from 1940 to 1949 and was stationed in Jaffna, Anuradhapura and Batticaloa. He was Chief Jailor at the Jaffna Prisons and retired as senior Superintendent of Prisons.

He was also a former Private Secretary to Minister the late Lalith Athulathmudali and served the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) of Sri Lanka in various posts.

The late Gooneratne left behind his wife Beatrice (Beta) and three children Dr. Pani of the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital, Savithri Staff S. Thomas' Prep, Kollupitiya and Upali (jnr).

(L.G.)