Late J.B.C. Rodrigo – 126th Birth Anniversary
J.B.C. Rodrigo was the Principal of Prince Of Wales College, Moratuwa from 1934 to 1959. He had his preliminary education at Royal College and ended up at Trinity College. He entered Training College to become an English teacher. Took up a post at his alma mater, Royal College, as an English teacher. Later joined S. Thomas’ College, to do the same duties as an English teacher.
Additionally, was the Master in-Charge of cricket. After about three years at S. Thomas’, he left and joined Oxford University, Keble College to do classics and finally to become a barrister. On his return, he was offered the Principal position at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 1934, which he took up.
J.B.C. Rodrigo, with the Prince of Wales College cricket team when he was the Principal
His passion and love for cricket being so great, one of his priority tasks was, to remove all barriers surrounding the college playground in order to make it a proper cricket ground and play ground to the students and suitable for several different sport activities.
His ambition was fitly rewarded. In 1935, Prince of Wales College, in the schools cricket season, playing with several other schools, won all the matches, unbeaten. His endeavour to develop the school, was instrumental so, being involved in several structure developments. Even today they are visible, there were several old boys going through his hands, who held high powered post in Ceylon. Professor Vernon Mendis, High Commissioner to UK and Secretary General at the 1976 Non Aligned Conference held in Sri Lanka, Ronnie De Mel, a civil servant and longest serving Minister of Finance, Professor Herbert Aponso, three civil servants, Condrad Perera, V.S.M. De Mel and Shelton C. Fernando. The last three held the then regarded highest esteemed post, as Secretaries, at the same period, amongst 12 others in the then government ministries.
Altogether unlike today, they were appointments on merit, after a competitive examination.
JBC’s love for cricket was so great. In 1954 on a visit to the UK, he was honoured. He was made a member of the high powered cricket establishment, the Marleybone Cricket Club, the MCC at Lords. He was also the President of the Schools Cricket Association, for over a decade. His endeavours, enabled, many great cricketers to be produced from Prince of Wales College. At a time when cricketers from the outstation schools had hardly any chance of donning the Ceylon cap. Amongst them were, H.I. Fernando, Stanley de Alwis, his son Lasantha Rodrigo, Anurudda Polonowita, D.S. de Silva, Stanley Fonseka, Nisal Senaratne, and Cecil Peiris. A passing but a unique happening, must also be made to the fact that two of his pupils, M.E.C. Fernando and Lakshman Gomes later became Principals of the same School
His wife now deceased, was Beryl Rodrigo and he had five children. Nirmali is 90, Ranjan deceased at 87, Lasantha is 87, Dharshani 84 and Ranil 80. So except for one, the rest all already enrolled themselves, as members of the eighty club. He died at 79 in 1978. His body rests at the Holy Emmanuel Church burial grounds. May his soul rest in peace.
Lasantha Rodrigo
Former Sri Lanka cricketer, opener and former Sri Lanka Cricket national selector