- Played stellar roles in maiden Test wins over England and Kiwis
Former Sri Lanka cricketer Jayananda Warnaweera passed away at the age of 64 in Katugastota, Kandy on Thursday (16), family sources disclosed.
Warnaweera, an off-spinner, represented Sri Lanka in 10 Test matches and six One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1986 and 1994.
The late Warnaweera, a native of Matara and an old boy of Mahinda College, Galle, was an effective slow bowler during his playing career where he delivered the ball at a quick pace.
In his prime he was more known for bowling fastish off-cutters in his unorthodox fashion than traditional off-breaks.
Warnaweera made his red-ball cricket debut against Imran Khan-led Pakistan at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy in 1986 under Duleep Mendis. He then had his last hurrah also against the Pakistanis at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo eight years later.
He claimed match figures of 6/132 in the second and final Test against Martin Crowe’s New Zealand, as Sri Lanka registered its first-ever Test victory by 9-wickets over the Black Caps at the SSC Grounds in the 1992-93 season under Arjuna Ranatunga.
The former off-spinner, who played the majority of his Tests at home, also played a starring role in Sri Lanka’s maiden victory (five wickets) over England under Arjuna Ranatunga at the SSC Grounds during a one-off Test in 1993. He recorded a match haul of 8/188 in that match against Alec Stewart’s side.
Following the end of his playing career, he served as the curator of the Galle International Cricket Stadium, with one of his crowning glories being the venue hosting its first-ever international fixture between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in 1998. Sri Lanka led by Ranatunga won the game by an innings and 16 runs.
He also functioned as an administrator attached to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) upon his retirement from the game, with his contributions being widely recognised in cricketing circles.
Warnaweera, who played most of his domestic first-class cricket for Galle CC and subsequently for Singha Sports Club, being a prolific wicket-taker at that level, claimed 32 wickets in his short-lived Test career, while picking up six wickets in the 50-over format.
Paying tribute, popular cricket commentator Roshan Abeysinghe said on X: “Deepest sympathy to the family of Jayananda Warnaweera. So sad to hear of his rather untimely demise. Rest in peace my friend, may the turf lie gently on you.”
Meanwhile, SLC on Friday (17) expressed its deepest condolences on the demise of the former cricketer cum administrator.
It added that on behalf of the entire cricketing fraternity, Sri Lanka Cricket extends its heartfelt sympathies to the Warnaweera family, friends, and loved ones during this moment of grief.
Furthermore as a mark of respect, Sri Lanka’s national women’s team wore black armbands during the game against South Africa at the RPICS, Colombo in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, 2025, having also observed a minute of silence near the team dugout before the game on Friday.
SLC further added that the late Jayananda Warnaweera’s contributions to the game in this country-both as a player and administrator-will be fondly remembered and deeply appreciated. Warnaweera’s funeral took place at the Mahaiyawa Cemetery in Kandy yesterday (18).
(JK)