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Leslie Fernando passes away

Leslie Fernando passes away
It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of our staffer Leslie Fernando yesterday, after a terminal illness bravely borne.

Fernando was a bundle of energy and was a glutton for work. He worked tirelessly and contributed lavishly to the 'Sunday Observer' and Daily News sports pages. When it came to sports writing there was nothing that he did not know.

He was quite hale and hearty and never showed signs of suffering from that dreaded disease, until it struck so suddenly. Leslie was a friend indeed and was always helpful to his colleagues and friends and would go out of the way to help.

He wrote profusely on all sports, with football being his forte. His well thought out articles were well received and many were the accolades that came his way from both, friend and foe.

I got to know Leslie when he joined St.Benedict's College from De La Salle College and immediately walked into the Benedictine team of 1959 led by Lionel Fernando. I was his vice captain.

He was popularly known as 'Cowdrey'. When he joined SBC, every cricketer thought that he was named Cowdrey, because he could bat like the great England batsman Michael Colin Cowdrey. From that moment we formed a very close friendship.

But he was not ashamed to reveal how he came to be called Cowdrey.

Incidentally Cowdrey was his idol. When Cowdrey made his first tour to Sri Lanka Leslie was overjoyed and rushed to the Colombo Oval to watch his idol bat.

Cowdrey played a short, yet crisp innings and when he was dismissed, Leslie wanted to get a closer look of his idol and if possible touch him.

After being dismissed, Cowdrey was doing an 'Oxford' bath.

Leslie kept watching his idol with awe. Cowdrey had shouted at the young Leslie to vanish. But Leslie would have nothing of it. Unable to get Leslie moving, Cowdrey had grabbed the bottle of fluid that was there and flung it on Leslie. Leslie was blinded.

His school mates who were watching the incident, immediately named him 'Cowdrey' and that is how he was popularly known and stayed until the time of his death. He is best remembered for the match winning knock of 90 odd he made to help SBC beat St.Peter's College at Kotahena.

After leaving school Leslie joined the Colombo Municipality as a Playground Instructor and played in the company of some illustrious cricketers who were at the CMC. He went on to captain the CMC team that won many a trophy.

After retiring from the CMC he took to sports journalism at Lake House and was dexterous covering all sports, and like I said earlier it was in football writing that he excelled. For a sports journalist he holds the record going on nearly 50 tours abroad covering all sports. In addition to excelling in cricket and football, he was also a champion carrom player. Leslie's sudden death leaves a void that will never easily be filled. His death came as a shock to all his colleagues at Lake House and his numerous friends.

We at Lake House will miss him no end. He leaves his wife Rukmni, son Ajantha and daughters Ruklanthi and Ranmali On earth he played an exemplary innings.May his soul rest in peace.

Goodbye dear friend.

Clifford Landers who worked with Leslie in the Observer, phoned me from Melbourne and broke the sad news of his colleague's passing away.

Elmo Rodrigopulle in Brisbane, Australia.

Posted by webmaster on March 05 2012 00:08:04 � 0 Comments � 1203 Reads

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Santha Perera
01/02/2013 01:31
What about the Prefects investiture for year 2013????

Santha Perera
24/12/2012 12:40
Wishing all Old Bens & their families a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Niroshan Perera
16/10/2012 07:25
Hi, please advise the details about the Annual Dinner Dance - 2012.

lishantha
02/10/2012 13:42
Obituary Notice With deep regret we inform you the demise of Master Pringley Rodrigo of 2011 A/L batch, yesterday (1 October 2012). Currently, the body lies at #117 / 2A, Pragathi Mawatha, Kalae

lishantha
10/09/2012 11:40
Greetings Bens! www.facebook.com/stbenedi
ctscollege

Santha Perera
30/06/2012 01:16
Why wasn't Jason Perera who is representing SL U-19 Cricket given prominence on this page?

Santha Perera
24/12/2011 00:50
Wish all OLD BENS & their families a MERRY CHRISTMAS. Santha Perera & Family

Santha Perera
08/11/2011 09:09
Could someone please publish the cricket fixtures for 2011/12 season. Also would appreciate if the scores are updated on the web.

Santha Perera
28/09/2011 11:21
All the best to Tony Ganlath and his new team at OBSC

Santha Perera
28/09/2011 11:20
Congrats to the cricketers and officials.

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