Fazil gets engaged to Yasara

By Shamzeer Jaleel

Former Kingswood skipper, former Sri Lanka Sevens skipper, present National Fifteens Captain and present Kandy SC Captain of 2015/2016, Fazil Marija got engaged to Yasara Abeynayake, former Head of Carlton Sport Network (CSN) in a simple ceremony in Colombo two days ago. 

The church event and the engagement ceremony took place in a leading hotel in Colombo.

Marija, one of Sri Lanka’s finest rugby union players in the modern era and one of Asia’s best fly halfs, is in his last few years of his rugby career which spans over a decade for the country, club and his school.

Marija comes from a sporting family background, with at least 20 members through two generations having represented Kingswood College, various clubs, services teams and National Rugby teams during the past four decades. A few of his close relatives are Nilfer Ibrhaim, Ronny Ibrahim, Faizal Marija (brother), Dev Ananda, Anju Buksh and Amjad Buksh.

Marija represented Kingswood College, the first school to introduce rugby to the country, from Under 13 to Under 20 level. He represented the senior school team in 2003 going on to lead them to end as unbeaten triple championship in 2004. 

Marija represented the Junior Asiad at the young age of 16 in 2000 where he became the youngest player to represent the country at junior level. While at school in 2003 he was called to play for the Sri Lankan senior team against the touring Hong Kong at his home grounds in Nittawela. From there onwards he was unstoppable and improved in his kicking abilities while maintaining his high level of inborn rugby skills.

He started his club career at Kandy, staying with the team loyally for the last 11 years in tandem without changing clubs for monetary gain. He is currently the most capped Sri Lankan rugby player. 

Marija led Sri Lanka Sevens for a number of years, with the islanders ending at number three position, which is the highest ranking to date in Asian rugby for them. 

He was honoured when the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) invited him to represent the Asia Pacific Barbarians in Hong Kong and played alongside some top class players such as George Gregan, Justin Marshal and Christian Cullen with coach David Campassy. 

Marija also had a three-month training stint in 2013 at one of the elite training academies in New Zealand, the Rugby Performance Centre in Auckland, home to the Auckland Blues who play in Super 15 rugby. He trained alongside the Northland ITM Cup Development Squad. Marija has won numerous national rugby awards for his excellence in the field of the oval shaped ball game. In 2007 and 2009 he became the Most Outstanding Player of the Year (Caltex Rugby Awards), in 2009 he was also recognised as the ‘Best Three Quarter’, in 2011 he became the ‘Best Ruggerite of the Year’ and in 2012 he became ‘Best Fly Half of the Year’.

In 2015 Marija was re-appointed as the Sri Lankan Captain and led the team to victory in the Asian Rugby Championship in Philippines. He is leading the defending League and Clifford Cup champions Kandy SC.