19/10/2024
https://www.facebook.com/100064710881649/posts/961983595968661/?app=fbl
๐ก๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ ๐ข๐พ๐ถ๐ถ๐ช ๐๐ช๐ฟ๐ช๐ป๐ช๐ฝ๐ท๐ช๐ถ ๐ธ๐ท ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ผ 01๐ผ๐ฝ ๐๐ฎ๐ช๐ฝ๐ฑ ๐๐ท๐ท๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐ช๐ป๐! Sumanthiran Navaratnam or 'Summa' as fondly called him, belonged to a rare breed of sporting icons having won international acclaim for athleticism and rugby skills. He was an outstanding boxer, rugby player, and athletics Captain of Royal College winning College colours in all three sports and set many records on the track during the 40s and 50s and was dubbed one-time as โAsiaโs fastest Manโ. He played for Royal College 1st XV and was a member of the team that beat Trinity College for the first time in 1941, and in the first two-leg encounter against Trinity College in 1943 when Royalists won both legs against Trinitians. He represented CR & FC (1947 onwards) in Rugger and went on to Captain the Red Shirts in 1954 and 1955, and to Clifford Cup glory. He also played for Ceylon, in an era when European players dominated Rugby in Ceylon, and played against touring British & Irish Lions in 1950. He later went on to become the President of CR & FC and also at Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (when it was CRFU and also later SLRFU). As a rugby coach, he produced some of the finest players in clubs and schools during his coaching stint of well over 50 years. He was also an exemplary Rugby administrator, at CR & FC and also at Sri Lanka Rugby. Known as a man of impeccable character and integrity โ to whom โright is mightโ - his judgment on many issues was precise, candid, and purpose-driven, as he was himself. Summa is one of the greatest and finest sporting personalities Sri Lanka has ever produced. He passed away peacefully on 19th October'2023 in Colombo. Thank you Sir for your unstinted service, and contribution to sports and for instilling high standards and discipline among sportsmen of Sri Lanka for over 50 years. Your presence, your smile, and your words of wisdom will be sorely missed. May you rest in peace and may your legacy be remembered forever!
Hereโs Summa's story, when we featured him in 2015 in Quadrangle Magazine.
https://quadrangle.lk/asias-fastest-man-clocks/
