Stefan D'Silva

Stefan D'Silva
Nationality Sri Lankan, Australian
Occupation Author, Superintendant of Corrective Services

Stefan D'Silva is a Sri Lankan-born Australian author, photographer and Rugby Player.[1]

Contents

Education and Rugby career

D'Silva was born in Colombo Sri Lanka and was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia. He represented the school First XV Rugby Football Team as a Prop forward in 1974 (with Professor Paul R. Mather), 1975 captained by PL Munasinghe, coached by Quentin Israel, which was considered the best ever Thomian Rugby team by sports journalist Sharm de Alwis and captained the team himself in 1976.[2] He also excelled in athletics winning medals in Shot Putt and colours in both Rugby and Athletics. Like his coach Quentin Israel and teammates PL Munasinghe, Michael Jayasekera and Shane Pinder he went on to represent Havelocks sports club. He played in the A division rugby cup final in 1976 while still a schoolboy as recorded by rugby coach referee S Sivendran [3]

Professional life

D'Silva emigrated to Australia in April 1977. He joined the prison service rising to the post of Superintendent of Corrective Services New South Wales, receiving the award of National Clasp in addition to a long service 25 year award.[4]

Coaching and support for Sri Lankan rugby

D'Silva's sports career ended with his emigration to Australia but he remained involved with Sri Lankan rugby and in particular contributed to coaching and supporting the rugby team his alma mater S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia as in the case of their attending the Melbourne Grammar Rugby Carnival,[5][6],.[7]

Career as author

D'Silva is now best known as an author and photographer publishing books on Wild life and rural Sri Lanka such as 'Alluring Sri Lanka and 'Sri Lanka a way of life',.[8][9]

'Alluring Sri Lanka' was reviewed by Raine Wickrematunge with the comments "With this exquisite coffee-tablebook,Stefan D’Silva hopes to create appreciation for the rich diversity of his homeland and dispel the notion that SriLanka is just a bombed-outshell". D'Silva resumed a chidhood love for wild life photography following a heart attack at age 42 [10]

References