Former Nalanda College cricketer of the 1970s and ‘80s Bandula de Silva passed away early this week in Sydney, Australia where he was residing.
He was a devastating pace bowler who was instrumental in delivering numerous victories for Nalanda and many cricket fans of that era still fondly remember how he locked horns with the likes of Arjuna Ranatunga and Brendon Kuruppu at the annual big match and came out triumphantly.
He was one of the highest wicket takers with over 80 wickets in a season and won the Best Bowler Award in the 1980 Exide Trophy 50-Over School Cricket Tournament.
Upon leaving school, Bandula was recruited to the Maharaja Group sales division and later joined the cabin crew of Air Lanka. At both these firms he played a prominent role in mercantile group cricket encounters and in addition represented BRC at Sara Trophy level.
Bandula decided to migrate to Australia in 1988 and after a successful career in the business sector retired early this year.
Throughout his career in Australia spanning three decades, Bandula occupied a position which he effectively used to provide employment to newly arrived Sri Lankan migrants and students.
In Sydney, he took an active part in many community activities and was a founding member of the Old Nalandians Association in NSW and Sri Lankan Cricket NSW in which he was at the forefront of charity functions hosting Sri Lankan national cricket teams when they visited Sydney where funds were raised for various charities in Sri Lanka.
When the Boxing Day tsunami struck in 2004, Bandula actively organised fund-raising activities to build houses for affected victims and continued to play cricket for Sri Lankan Lions and local clubs until a nagging knee injury compelled him to switch to a mentoring role.
Bandula was married to Namali for 35 years and was the father of three daughters.