The Cricketing Pilot

By Ravi Ramiah 

Sri Lanka, the island known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is much loved by people all around the world, and there is something very special particularly in our aviation history. 

When we look into the world’s aviation history, us Sri Lankans who have a passion for the game of cricket can proudly speak about an airline pilot who has played the gentleman’s game at international level in the pre-test cricket era; it is none other than Captain Sunil R. De Silva Wettimuny.

Since this is the 100th year of flying in Sri Lankan skies, as a friend I consider it my duty to write of this Sri Lankan legend and as a nation Sri Lanka should salute this true son of the soil who is currently the only cricketing pilot in the world up to date.

Captain Wettimuny is now retired, but is still involved in training young pilots around the world for major airlines in the airbus simulators at Singapore’s ST Aerospace Academy, which happens to be the largest Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider in the world.  

He was one of the best opening batsmen in world cricket in the ’70s and holds the record for scoring the first 50 runs for Sri Lanka in the inaugural World Cup match against the mighty Australians in 1975. 

A gentleman of high esteem yet a man of simplicity, Captain Wettimuny has been an impressive cricketer, admired by many cricket legends around the world.

Late Sir Robert Senanayake relayed the words “the best technically correct batsman in the world,” which were mentioned to him by Australian World Cup Manager Simpson during the 1975 World Cup when Captain Wettimuny scored 53 runs against the might of Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee and retired hurt. 

The Captain was also the first Sri Lankan to write a book on cricket, titled ‘Cricket the Noble Art’ in 1986.

Another significant occasion was when he piloted the Air Lanka Tri Star flight from Lahore to Colombo on 18 March 1996, bringing the Victorious World Cup winners back home.

This cricketer turned airline pilot would have been the best choice to captain the first Sri Lankan Test Cricket Team, had it not been for his devotion and commitment as a pilot for Air Lanka in 1982.

Out of the 100 years of aviation in Sri Lanka, he has dedicated four decades of his life flying Air Ceylon, Air Lanka, SriLankan Airlines, Jet Airways and Mihin Lanka. It would not be superfluous to mention that Captain Wettimuny has been the driving force in producing three more pilots in the Wettimuny family.

There is no doubt that the name Sunil Wettimuny will be scripted in gold in the history of Sri Lanka’s aviation services.