Remembering a versatile sportsman and mentor

Sumanasiri Widyatilake, who was an old boy of Richmand College Galle, was a very popular figure in the field of sports. As a schoolboy, he played cricket, soccer, volleyball and took part in athletics. He was also a member of the junior cricket team. After joining the Police Department (Now Sri Lanka Police) he became a prominent figure in the discipline of rugby union, soccer, volleyball and hockey. He was the captain of the ‘Police College’ teams for many years and under his leadership, the Police College teams emerged as champions on several occasions. He also represented the Sri Lanka Police Volleyball, rugby union, soccer and hockey teams and was made the captain of Police Sports Club rugby team in 1965. He played for the Police rugby team for 11 years. He made his contributions to the Police Department in earning a reputation as an institute. This he did through his devotion to work. He became popular among the Police officers as a good sportsman and was known as ‘Police Yakadaya’.

Sumanasiri had the rare opportunity of being the Secretary of Police Volleyball for 12 consecutive years. Later, he was unanimously elected as the treasurer of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation. He was also a member of the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka.

Out of his long years of service, Waidyatilake worked at the Sri Lanka Police College, Kalutara for 12 years. While at the Police College, he rendered his dedicated services as a Recruiting officer, Parade Instructor, Lecturer and Sports Officer. As a recruiting officer, he visited all parts of the country with the aim of selecting the best to the Police Department. During this period, he was fortunate enough to be an instructor to many eminent Police officers of this country. As the sports officer of the Sri Lanka Police College, he played a prominent role in the sports activities of the Police College. Under his leadership and guidance, Police college teams emerged as champions at the Inter District Tournaments on many occasions.

During the last 15 years of his service, Waidyatilake worked at the Police Traffic Headquarters as Inspector of Police, Chief Inspector of Police (0.I.C. Traffic Headquarters) and ASP. Having rendered his invaluable services to Sri Lanka, he retired from service in 1995. But his name is unforgettable in the history of sports in Sri Lanka.

HE BECAME POPULAR AMONG THE POLICE OFFICERS AS A GOOD SPORTSMAN AND WAS KNOWN AS ‘POLICE YAKADAYA’

HE WAS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED AS THE TREASURER OF THE SRI LANKA VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION

OUT OF HIS LONG YEARS OF SERVICE, WAIDYATILAKE WORKED AT THE SRI LANKA POLICE COLLEGE, KALUTARA FOR 12 YEARS. WHILE AT THE POLICE COLLEGE, HE RENDERED HIS DEDICATED SERVICES AS A RECRUITING OFFICER, PARADE INSTRUCTOR, LECTURER AND SPORTS OFFICER