He played rugby as a scrum half for his Alma Mater Vidyartha College, Kandy and then went on to wear the Sri Lanka Elephant jersey having proved his worth while playing for teams like CR and FC, CH and FC and Police SC as he switched roles and positions that were the turning point in his career.
Now a hardy Number Eight, Radeesha Seneviratne currently plays for Navy SC. He is a versatile player who has also fitted in as scrum half and winger as well making him no ordinary player on the scene.
“At school Vidyartha everyone wanted to play rugby. It was natural that I too would play,” said Seneviratne in an interview with the Sunday Observer. He has no regrets for not doing any other sport.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: Describe yourself in one word?
Reliable
Q: Any words or phrases you overuse?
Nothing actually
Q: What is your most marked characteristic?
Humour. I like to smile and joke and often it makes life easier
Q: If you could edit your past, what would you change?
No change. I am happy with the way my life has progressed
Q: What is the most important thing in your life?
My wife Achini, my kids, my parents and rugby of course
Q: Who has influenced you the most?
My parents in my younger days and watching old boys from Vidyartha play for Sri Lanka made me want to be like them too
Q: Are you fashionable?
I like to dress comfortably
Q: If you had access to a time machine what would you change?
Like I said before, nothing
Q: What motivates you in your life?
Achini, my wife
Q: If you could choose any career right now, what would it be?
Professional rugby player and Oh I think I’ve got it already
Q: What forms of music do you listen to?
Nothing special and it depends on the place and occasion
Q: What’s the best thing you would like to hear from someone?
All about good obviously. I try to do my best at work and on the field and my family always
Q. What made you to choose sports?
At school Vidyartha everyone wanted to play rugby. It was natural that I too would play
Q. Thus far what were your most unforgettable sporting incidents?
I played scrum half all along at school at the start of my career but (coach) Bilal Yusouf and Tavita Tualgese “Laga” decided to move me to play as Number Eight while I was at CR and that changed my whole rugby life. I’m grateful to them for that
Q. What’s your best school sporting achievement?
Winning all the rugby big matches against Ananda College in all three years I played senior rugby
Q: What is your idea of happiness?
Spending time with my family and close friends
Q: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Dishonesty and fake attitudes
Q: What would be your biggest disappointment?
I wish I could play rugby forever but there has to come a time for things to slow down and spend time with my family
Q: Most important lesson life has taught you?
To smile even in times of adversity