Kavan Rambukwella will always be remembered

by Hafiz Marikar

A moment to remember of the most prolific rugby stalwart in yester years is Kavan Rambukwella who died on 13th of February 2002.

He was one of the finest center-three-quarters Trinity College produced and the country has seen. He played for the Trinitiains from 1950 to 1952. In 1950 he played under S.S. Bambaradeniya, and rest of the team mates were A.I.J. Madugalle, D. Ratwatte, R.W.Tucker, H.L. Fernando, S.A. Bertie Dias, V.Wijeratne, L. R. Pilimatalawa, Lakshman Jayakody, M.S. Panditharatne, J. Shanmuganathan, B.Spledewinde, G. Tenakoon, J. Weerasekara, S.S. Bambaradeniya.

That year Trinity won the first leg of the Bradby by 6 points to nil at Bogambara and the second leg they won 5-3 at the Race Course.

Trinity lost both games in 1951 under Mervyn Panditharatne 3-19 and 5-13 while in 1952 also with Panditharatne as Captain Trinity won 6 nil and 12 nil. Rambukwella won his rugger colours in 1950 along with Lakshman Jayakody, A.T.J. Madugalle, C. Shanmuganathan, B.O. Spledewinde, J.G.G. Tenakoon and J.Weerasekara, and the coveted Rugby Lion in 1951.

Kavan was a top class athlete as well and led the school team in 1950 and 1951. Whilst at school, he was invited by Kandy sports Club, but joined his favourite club CR and FC and captained the side in 1960/1961, played an exclusive role both as a rugger player and administrator later. he also played for the Low Country and All-Ceylon.

Rambukwella was President of the CR & FC and Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union. He helped the CR & FC rugby in a big way, and also made valuable contributions to improve rugby at Police SC, from 1968 to 1972. During that time as the coach, Police rugby achieved excellence.

In 1968 Police team was promoted to "A" Division in Inter-club rugby league tournament, In 1970 and 1971 Police shared the Clifford Cup. Police was the outright winners of the Clifford Cup in the year 1972 all this was due to the major contribution by Kavan. Due to his devoted contribution and good work, late DIG Daya Jayasundara and DIG Nimal Lewke suggested to donate a trophy through the Police Department for the great services the Police Rugby obtained the trophy in his name for the best Outstation Team at Police Inter Division Rugby Tournament as an encouragement to boost outstation rugby.

Before coaching Police, Rambukwella helped Thurstan College in 1962 when Raj Weerasekara led Thurstan College.

Rambukwella was a huge 'live wire' for the Trinity College - Old Boys Association Colombo Branch for a very long time advising the young and old of how to get things moving traditionally with emphasis on the code of conduct by all Trinitians, even before passed away.