Camillus Abeygunawardena – an officer and a gentleman is no more

Camillus Abeygunawardena (extreme left) organised the 125th anniversary celebrations of NCC in November 2013 and watches Aravinda de Silva cut the cake at the club house at Maitland Place. Former SL Captain Arjuna Ranatunga is also present

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Camillus Abeygunawardena, Retired DIG Police – Traffic and former Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) President passed away yesterday after a prolonged illness.

Camillus was in his eighties at the time of his death fighting a losing battle with cancer. One of his two sons who predeceased him also died of cancer.

Camillus joined NCC in 1994 and was elected to the Executive Committee in 2005. He became President of the club in 2009 and held the position for three years till 2011. He then served as Immediate Past President for another year in the ExCo and after that was made a Life Member.

Camillus is remembered for organising the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations in November 2013 when he was Chairman of the Organising Committee. He was an active member of the club right throughout and one of the most popular Presidents of the club. He did a lot of infrastructure development to the club and was mainly involved in changing the original facade of the club to what it is today at Maitland Place.

Former Sri Lanka cricketer and NCC stalwart Ranjith Fernando paying tribute to Camillus said: “He was a superb President; he was instrumental in organising a lot of events for the club. He was a real live wire. Being in the police he was very keen that the constitution of the club had to be maintained very carefully so that you work according to it. He was also responsible for upgrading the constitution.  He was very popular with the membership and a people’s man. 

“He volunteered to do the club functions anniversaries and felicitations etc. For a policeman, he was a complete gentleman, helpful to anyone and solved problems of the people. He was very interested in sports because his son was a rugby player at St. Peter’s College, where he also studied. He followed a lot of rugby and one of his sons is a highly qualified fitness trainer in Australia.”

Camillus’ remains lie at the A.F. Raymond parlour and his funeral will take place on Saturday at the Mount Lavinia cemetery at 10:00 a.m.