Priyantha Ekanayake was one of Sri Lanka's best forwards

by Hafiz Marikar

It can be said, that the best rugby forward to come out of St. Anthony's College, Katugastota is Priyantha Ekanayake. Out of the galaxy of ruggerites produced by St. Anthony's College, Priyantha Ekanayake stands tall and proud, being the first Antonian to captain the Sri Lanka rugby team, and that too for a record ten consecutive years. He has led the country at four Rugby Asiads. He is a double International at rugger and basketball.

During his playing days he was a crack third-row forward. He had an excellent record in school with his natural talent. Towering over six feet, Priyantha played rugger, cricket, and basketball and also took part in athletics for the Katugastota Antonians from 1973 to 1985. He led both the rugger and the basketball teams. Priyantha was a forward of international repute, though he ended up at St. Anthony's College, he first went to Rikilagaskanda Central, in the shadows of Dumbara Valley.

His pet sport was Basketball at school, and represented the country at the 7th Asian Basketball Championship in Seoul, Korea where he also obtained a Korean Diploma in Basketball coaching. Later he represented the country at several tournaments. At cricket he was a fine all-rounder, where he shaped up as a good pace bowler, but rugby robbed him from cricket.

Priyantha's coach - Kalu Perera

He started his rugby career under the coaching of Kalu Perera, who coached him till he left school. While still at school Priyantha played for Kandy Sports Club. From there on there was no stopping. Priyantha who represented the Sri Lanka under 25 team and toured Taipei in 1985. From about that time he was an automatic choice for the national team. After seeing his talent, in the very same year CH & FC's king pin at that time, Kishin Butani invited him to the Maitland Crescent Club, and made him to play in the R. Premadasa Trophy Championship which CH & FC went on to win. After a short stint at CH & FC, Priyantha crossed over to CR & FC in 1987, and joined Malik Samarawickrema's company, and played for CR & FC till 1991. He led the side in 1990. He led all the teams he played for, but failed to lead CH & FC.

In 1992 Ekanayake and a set of players from CR & FC, most of them products of Kandy schools, came over to Kandy, and helped the club to win their first ever trophy in rugby after 42 years of club rugby.

It was Priyantha, who motivated the Nittawela boys to do great things, with the help of Malik Samarawickrema. From the year 1985 to 1997, Priyantha was a regular member of the Sri Lanka team and had the privilege of leading the country at four Asiads - a record. Priyantha also had a stint in New Zealand where he played for Ravense Bourne Sports Club in the Premier League. He also played in Wales for Ebbebale Province.

In 1997, he made Kandy and the country proud by leading the Asian Barbarians invitation team. The Barbarians comprised of players from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The other players who were selected were Thushara Jayalath of Havelock SC and Asoka Jayasena of Kandy SC, but Asoka skipped the game due to Kandy Sports Club's Cup Final.

Ekanayake became the first Sri Lankan to lead the Asian Barbarians and first Antonain to lead the country. In the first game against Hong Kong Under 24, which had some top notch players, Priyantha leading from the front, helped his team to beat the Hong Kong side by 46 points to 35. Then in the main game, they met the Hong Kong Dragons where again the Barbarians won by 26 points to nil.

Priyantha gave his best for rugby and ended up as the Vice-President of Kandy Sports Club. He also coached the Kandy Sports Club side when Haris Omar led the team, and helped the club to win the inter-club sevens for the first time.

Now he is helping his school, St. Anthony's College. Together with the Rugby Committee of the St. Anthony's, Priyantha and Company are all out to put the school team back in contention.

Priyantha Ekanayake, also played for Colombo Clubs and Upcountry, Low-Country and led all the teams. Priyantha gave his best for rugby and ended up as the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union, where he had Dilroy Fernando as his secretary and did a good job.

Priyantha Ekanayake, with his experience as a player and administrator, should come back to the rugby scene and give a hand to promote the game. Priyantha today is attached to Pengun Garments as the Markerting Director. At present he is helping his school, St. Anthony's College, together with the Rugby Committee.