Page 21 - cover

;sia y;a jk l,dmh 19
My close association with Nalaka came in bag as your pillow, otherwise you will lose it
the Rugby field. First, he insisted me to take part with all your belongings. Don’t look for me. I
in Inter Command Rugby tournament to play for will be doing the same. I will wake you up when
the Training Command team. Even though I had we are reaching the Ragama station”. (We used
very good basic skills on Rugby by attending Mr. to disembark at Ragama to go to our Welisara
Summa Navaratnam’s Rugby training sessions on Navy Camp). What a bright idea! I said “Aye aye
weekends at the CR and FC grounds (thanks to my Sir”, but like an idiot I asked him again, “Excuse
late father), I have not played much competitive me Sir! Why did you ask me to carry a towel?”
Rugby at Royal.
He was outraged and said “You Bloody
Nalaka (who was our Captain in Training idiot! (I deserved it this time) cover your
Command team) insisted that I should pair beautiful face with that towel when you are
him as the second row forward in our Training sleeping on the floor. Otherwise, sailors traveling
Command team. I obeyed him reluctantly. To my in the train will see you and tomorrow they will
surprise, we played well and clicked well as the report to the Training Commander saying “we
second row forwards, and I was also selected to saw Cadet Wijegunaratne sleeping on the floor
the Navy Rugby pool. in a third class compartment! Then not only you,
I will also be in trouble”. That is Nalaka.
Nalaka was very happy. As under trainees
at that time we would not get the luxury of being With the slight swing of the night mail
at the Walisara Navy camp with other Navy train moving fast, I had a good night sleep on
Rugby pool members. We had to travel by train the floor of a third class compartment, covering
from Trincomalee to Colombo for matches on my face with a towel and my traveling bag as
weekends and had to return to Trincomalee in my pillow. Thanks to Nalaka’s bright survival
the night mail train to be at the Parade Ground by technique.
0730 on Mondays.
After matches, Nalaka used to visit his
I liked the idea, rather than doing school-time sweetheart, Achini (Sudarshani)
cleaning of messes and running around the Naval who was playing Netball at that time and I used
Dockyard on weekends, this is a much better to run home. Before leaving, he always ensured
option to travel to Colombo to play matches on that I had a decent meal after a match.
weekends, have a beer after the match, say “Hi”
Comradeship we built during Rugby
to my mother, sisters and friends and to return
seasons was there throughout our career. We
on Sunday night. I loved the opportunity and
both played Navy Rugby together for a number
thanked Nalaka profusely for convincing me to
of years. As the Captain of the Navy team, he
play Rugby.
brought glory to Navy by becoming the Runner-
Nalaka taught me the first lesson of survival Up team in the A Division Knockout tournament
in trying time. We used to get third class train in 1989. It was a great achievement to the
tickets ‘Trinco-Colombo-Trinco’ those days to Navy team at that time. He was always an elder
attend matches. There were no reservations brother to me.
and weekend night mail trains were always very
In 1995, both of us were Commanding
crowded. Before our first trip to Colombo, Nalaka
Fast Attack Craft (FACs) in the North. Once I was
told me “Hey, ! Ensure you carry a newspaper and
on patrol and my FAC engines stalled due to an
a towel before boarding the train tomorrow”.
electronic defect and was drifting dangerously
I was wondering whether we are going to towards enemy held Velvettiturai (VVT). I
have a sea bath or a swim after the match, but screamed for help and Nalaka came in his FAC
why a newspaper? At the Trincomalee railway and tried to tow me away from the VVT reef.
station Nalaka told me, “Bloody idiot! You are Wind and waves were so strong and his effort
going to play a Rugger match tomorrow! Ensure was futile and Nalaka’s FAC also started to drift
you get some good sleep tonight. When the crowd towards the reef dangerously. I shouted, “Sir let
settle down in the train put your newspaper on go the towrope! Otherwise, we both will run
the floor in a passage way and sleep. Keep your aground!” Angry Nalaka shouted back, “No way!