Top Spin By Suni For LankaWeb
25th April 2010

Malsiri Kurukulasuriya whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ passed away in Sri Lanka yesterday is probably an unsung Sri Lankan cricketingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ academic whose life was lived to the fullest where he combined the joys of his cricketing career withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the academics he pursued diligentlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which took him from Trinity College to the University of Ceylon and eventually to Oxford University, the last venue of his educationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where he did not make the Oxford cricket teamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  despite being called up for trials although completingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with accomplishmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ academics he pursued.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
Malsiri’s cricketƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was nurtured at his belovedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Trinity College KandyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where he blossomed intoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one of the most stylish as well as prolific batsmen to be produced by the school at a time when Trinity wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ better known forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ RugbyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which carried the school to glory.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
He represented Trinity during the 1956, ’57, ’58 and ’59 seasons alongside the likes ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the late Nimal Maralande and Jayantissa RatwatteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where the college scorebooks indicate that he scored 14 centuries during this tenure and a featƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ matched an exceededƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to this day only by Ananda’s Chandrasiri Weerasinghe whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  got one more and went on to play for the national team where Malsiri probably missed this prestigious opportunity as he left for foreign shores soon after his college education.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
In 1959 on the second day of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Big Match,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ against St Anthony’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ due to some discrepancy which highlighted Trinity skipper Nimal Maralande as overage,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Malsiri then vice captain was nominated to lead the side in an outstanding performance. Malsiri was a No. 3 batsman with a lovely array of shots all round the wicket and a quick scorer who was a delight to watch in addition to being gifted with a sublime coverdrive. He was a coloursman andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  eventually a prestigious TrinityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lion as well as a prominent member of the Sara Trophy winning, star studded University of Ceylon team ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and later turned outƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for the SSC when he returned from Oxford after his post secondary education.
EventuallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  he emigrated to Canada and gave ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his best to Canadian cricket and his Canadian Club GracechurchƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  teaming up with many prominent Sri Lankans of yester year including the likes of Rohan and Shantha Jayasuriya and Nigel Isaacs who also represented Canada as well as guiding the team to Championsip victories in the Toronto and District Premiere LeagueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Competition.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
He was a likeable and amiable chap with a wonderful sense of humour who loved to impart his playing skills to others including a son who captained the Junior Canadian side as well as playing for Gracechurch hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  old club, a great club man whose social graces went far beyond the playing fieldsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and whose brave battle with a terminal illness ended sadly as he fought to the end, loving life and the gentlemen’s game squeezing as much ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ them as possible towards his illustrious playing career andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his personal well being which truly embellished hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ colourful personality which will be dearly missed by those who knew him.
May God Grant Him Eternal Rest.