P. L. Munasinghe

PL Munasinghe
Nationality Sri Lankan
Occupation Accountant, company executive
Known for Rugby Centre Three quarter

Priyaraj Lakmal (better known as PL) Munasinghe is a Sri Lankan Rugby Union player.

Centre Three-quarters PL Munasinghe, Wilhelm Bogstra in support as wing three quarter Devaka Fernando collects a grubber The Royal Thomian Rugby Match 1975

Education

School

He was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia Sri Lanka, where as Head Prefect he was awarded the Victoria Jubilee Gold Medal, won colours in rugby and athletics. He played for the Rugby first XV in 1973,1974, captained the school in 1975 and played (under Stefan D'Silva's captaincy) in 1976. He placed second in the under 19 100 metres (described in the school magazine by Athletics captain WR Gunasena as a "lion hearted run") at the Public Schools Athletics meet in 1974 and was part of a successful 4x100 metres relay team which included Ishak Sahabdeen (later a double international in Hockey and Cricket), Devaka Fernando ( who placed second in 400 metres) and Ajit Ganeshan (Captain 1st XI Cricket and Public Schools long jump finalist).[1] Other contemporaries and class mates included Richard de Zoysa,Dr Chanaka Amaratunga, Dr Uthum Herat, Saliya Ahangama, Guy de Alwis, Palitha Kohona, General Mendaka Samarasinghe, Arittha R Wikramanayake, Professor Paul R. Mather, Dr Eric Wikramanayake and Dr RD Gunaratne.

Professional

Munasinghe is a Chartered Accountant, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK).

School rugby

His team mates in rugby included Michael Jayasekera (later chairman Board of Selectors Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union), Stefan D'Silva (Author), Rienzie Fernando (President Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club[2]) Shane Pinder, Mr Peter Vanniasingham (Peter Vann) (Surgeon), and Professor (Dr)Devaka Fernando in the 1975 Rugby team coached by Quentin Israel later described as "the best Thomian team" by sports journalist Sharm de Alwis.[3]

S Thomas College 1st XV Rugby Team 1975''' Standing L to R Charith Wickramathilake, Ananda Welikala, Darup Pieris, SKN Fernando, Rienzie Fernando, Shane Pinder, Devaka Fernando, Rohitha Attygalle, Michael Jayasekera, Tushitha Ranasinghe Seated L to R Mr Quentin Israel (Coach), Mahesa Abeynaike, Theadore Thambapillai, Pat Jacob, PL Munasinghe (Captain) Mr SJ Anandanayagam (Warden) Stefan D'Silva, Peter Vanniasingham, Loka Thilakaratne, Wilhelm Bogstra, Mr Lassie Abeywardena (Master in Charge)
S Thomas' College Rugby 1st XV Team 1976 Standing: Avindre de Silva, R Wadugodapitiya, Eraj Gihan Ratnaike, Dyalan Supramanium, Kapila Waidyaratne,Jeya Poniah, Jeyakumar,Shane Pinder, Charith Wickramathilake, Wazil Hafeel Seated: Quentin Israel (Coach) Michael Jayasekera, Darup Pieris, PL Munasinghe, Stefan D'Silva (Captain), Mr SJ Anandanayagam (Warden) Theadore Thambipillai, Wilhelm Bogtsra, Rienzie Fernando
S Thomas College 1st XV Rugby Football Team 1974 Standing L to R Pat Jacob, Chandana Williams, Anomal de Soysa, Jayanath Karunaratne, Sepala Jayasinghe, Loka Thilakaratne, Mahesa (Tarzan) Abeynaike, Devaka Fernando, Wilhelm Bogtstra, CC Ching Seated Lto R Mr Quentin Israel (Coach), PL Munasinghe, Paul R. Mather, Ranil de Soysa, Peter Vanniasingham(Captain) Mr SJ Anandanayagam (Warden) Mohan Hallock, S Anandakrishna, Stefan D'Silva, Mr Lassie Abeywardena (Master in Charge)

The Royal Thomian Rugby Match 1975

Under his leadership at the Royal Thomian rugby match in July 1975, his team came from behind to beat the favourites 8–3 in this example of Royal-Thomian rivalry[4] to win the Michael Gunaratne Trophy. Sharm De Alwis has described his two tries as a "spectacular sensation" where he "sliced through the entire defence to score under the posts" not once but twice (it must be assumed that he sidestepped and cut inside, as De Alwis refers to him paralysing the opposing stand off (also referred to as fly half or No 10).[5][6][7]

Leading from the front he not only scored the two match winning tries but marshalled a defence which the Ceylon Daily Mirror described as:

"the virtual stone wall erected by the Thomian back division who tackled as if their life depended on it. Particularly impressive in this department was full back (Shane) Pinder, skipper Munasinghe and wing three quarter Devaka Fernando who tackled their opponents to a virtual standstill.",[8][9] Mahesa Abeynayake describes their team spirit.[10]

Club and National Rugby

He went on captain Sri Lanka schools against the Combined clubs side and subsequently represented Havelocks Sports Club and Sri Lanka in a partnership with fellow centre three quarter Michael Jayasekera,[11][12] Munasinghe has been listed among the best threequarters to play rugby between 1968 and 1982.[13] His career was cut short by a knee injury during a practice game.[14]

Professional

He was a director in Carpenters Fiji Ltd[15] and is currently chief executive officer of Courts (Fiji) Ltd.[16][17][18]

References

  1. ↑ S Thomas College School Magazines Term 2 and Term 3 1974, Term 2 and 3 1975
  2. ↑ Regaining 'A’ Division League Title is CR's main ambition Ranjeeva Seneviratne, accessed 27 November 2011
  3. ↑ A Brief Overview of Thomian Rugby By Sharm de Alwis, accessed 26 November 2011
  4. ↑ Ceylon Daily News Lake House Newspapers 12 July 1975
  5. ↑ Sharm De Alwis A brief overview of Thomian rugby, accessed 28 May 2011
  6. ↑ ' Havies rugby has hit a new low' – By Bernie Wijesekera, accessed 26 November 2011
  7. ↑ Royal-Thomian clash for Guneratne Trophy on 26 July Tuesday, Daily News on line 22 July 2003, accessed 26 November 2011
  8. ↑ Daily Mirror 12 July 1975
  9. ↑ Reminiscing Royal – Thomian annual rugby clash by Rukshan Razak, accessed 26 November 2011
  10. ↑ The Glory days of Thomian Rugby Mahesa Abeynayake , accessed 26 November 2013
  11. ↑ 'When the Thomians 'let loose the dogs of war – Courtesy: DailyNewsPosted on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 @ 10:33:44 LKT by SaNDun, accessed 26 November 2011
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ , Rugby supermen 1968 – 1982 Rohan Muttiah Island on line
  14. ↑ , Four rugby super heroes BY SHARM de Alwis Ceylon Daily News 5 November 2005
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ The Sun Courts names new CEO accessed 28 May 2011
  17. ↑ Courts welcomes new CEO writer : KERESI NAUWAKARAWA 24 March 2011 accessed 28 May 2011
  18. ↑ PL Munasinghe Chief Executive Officer1 accessed 28 November 2011


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