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| Sunday, 29 June 2003 |
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Former Rajan 'keeper' Gajaweera migrates to Canada by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr Jeewan Gajaweera, one of the finest wicketkeepers produced by Dharmaraja College first for seven years will migrate to Canada shortly. Jeewan Gajaweera first played for Dharmaraja College in 1983 barely 13 years as the 'baby of the team' and as a wicketkeeper displayed fine skills that he booked for himself a permanent place in the side for the next seven years, captaining the side in 1988 and playing the following year too. Jeewan Gajaweera had 37 victims in 1983, and 46 in 1984, 47 in 1985, 51 victims in 1986, 50 in 1987, 30 in 1988 and 52 in 1989. In 1988 he scored over 500 runs and had 7 victims in the Big Match against Kingswood College in 1989. The year 1989 was his best year when he had 52 victims and also scored 750 runs. In the five of the big matches he carried away the Best Fielders award. In 1988, he was rated as one of the best wicketkeepers in schools, behind only to the Test wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharne. He was a member of the Dharmaraja College cricket team which became runner-up in the All Island Schools Division One tournament in 1985 and this was the best performance by the Rajans at competitive cricket till this was emulated this year when they became knock out champions. In 1984, the Rajans became runner-up in the all island under 15 cricket tournament and he was one of the key players in the side. Jeewan Gajaweera, apart from captaining the first XI, also skippered the College under 11, under 13, under 15 and under 17 teams with much success. He also won the college cricket colours from 1985 to 1990 for six years. At school level he reached the pinnacle of success when he was selected to the Central Province Combined Schools and it was the emergence of Test cricketer Romesh Kaluwitharne who stood in his way for greater success. He humbly agreed that the better player must be given the opportunity and Romesh Kaluwitharne was No. 1 at that time. At club level, while at school he played for Kandy CC and later for BRC in the P. Sara Trophy cricket tournament as a wicketkeeper batsman. But studies took him to the University of Moratuwa where he was outstanding as a batsmen. In the University of Moratuwa, he continued his cricket helping this institution to become inter university cricket champions from 1992 to 1995. He also won the Gold Medal for cricket in the 4th and 5th Sri Lanka University Games. In addition to this, he was also awarded University Colours for cricket from 1993 to 1995. In addition to cricket, he is also a fine athlete and represented the college at district, provincial and public schools level and won many places. At the University of Moratuwa, too, he continued his athletics and also played table tennis for the varsity team. Jeewan Gajaweera was very agile behind the stumps and showed exceptional skills and follows the ball from the time it leaves the bowler's hands and positions himself well to collect it, without resorting to diving or tumbling unless going for a catch. A very dedicated player who puts all he could into the game and works hard for the success of the side. Very soft spoken, he belongs to the rare breed of wicketkeepers, who refrains from unnecessary appealing which in a way helps the umpires. When one knows that it is not out and the umpire is also not going to 'raise his finger' why does one want to irritate all by appealing unnecessarily unless it is a very close one?" asked Gajaweera. Jeewan Gajaweera is a very good natured cricketer and loved by all for his pleasant habits, both on and off the field and he will be certainly missed by the cricket fans and friends in the hill capital and those who knew him outside the cricket field too. At the time of his resignations, he was employed as one of the General Managers in the Access Group of Companies. We wish him 'Bon Voyage' and all the very best in his country of adoption where he hopes to continue his cricket, and who knows, he could make it to the national team there, what he could not achieve in Sri Lanka. |
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