Daya Jayasundera - a fine sportsman will always be remembered!

Rugby star passes away...... The death and funeral yesterday of rugby star and later top referee Daya Jayasundera took away from our midst a thorough gentleman and a sports personality. But before he came on to the rugby scene, he was in the Police force and rose to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police.

No superlatives can describe Daya's role as a model policeman. A teetotaller, mild in his manner and a gentleman in his actions in the thirty-six years he spent with the Police, having joined the force in 1971. He rose to one short of the top slot.

In 1976 he was promoted to the rank of Inspector, in 1983 to the rank of Assistant Superintendent, in 1988 to Superintendent, in 1992 to Senior Superintendent and finally Deputy Inspector General of Police in 1999 and at that rank he retired from the Police.

Daya's stint with the Special Task Force from 1983 to 1990 as Assistant Superintendent and 1994 to 1998 as Deputy Commandant Operations saw him carry out many successful operations between the Government Forces and their enemy.

Coming on to the sports scene, he was a student of Dharmaraja College and he really excelled in sports. When he was a student at Dharmaraja there was no Rugby Football at Dharmaraja, but he went in the avenues that were available. Daya was vice-captain of the Dharmaraja College cricket team and had the opportunity of sharing the new-ball with T.B. Kehelgamuwa.

He boxed for Sri Lanka Schools in the 110 lb weight category.

In athletics, he won the Central Province events in 400 meters and in throwing the javelin.

His versatility in sports grew and he played Hockey for school and Police and his position was centre forward.

He was out of school in 1965 and he played rugby football for Kandy Sports Club captained by Emil Vanderpoorten. In 1966 Jayatissa Ratwatte was captain and Y.C. Chang captained the team in 1967 and 1968. Midway in 1968 he joined the Police as a Sub Inspector and played in the All-India tournament held in Colombo. He was a vital player in the Police outfit from 1968 to 1977, captaining in 1974.

Daya Jayasundera was in the National team at the Asian Championship of 1972 under Y.C. Chang.

Daya Jayasundera's career as a rugby player is as great as his achievements in the Police Force. After having played for Kandy Sports Club, he went on to play for Police for eleven unbroken years.

He was one of the best referees. He was also a National Selector of the Rugby Union from 1985 to 1987. He was also manager of the Sri Lanka team on many occasions.

A.C. de Silva