Ruggerite Shantha Rohana out to promote sports in Kandy

By Hafiz Marikar

Old Pathanian Shantha Rohana who is a Chief Inspector of Police attached to Kandy Police, was an outstanding hockey and rugby player during his school days for Isipathana College who is keen to give a helping hand to promote sports in the Kandy Police Division, At one time Kandy Police gave a big hand for sports like cricket, football, athletics, hockey,volleyball, netball, tennis, billiards basketball etc.

Shantha Rohana’s favourite sport was rugby in school and at club level.. He played rugby for Isipathana College. He excelled in all aspects of school life, especially on the sports field. He gained excellent marks in studies. He was head boy of the school. He played for the Pathanians from the junior level and ended up in the year 1987 as a top class prop forward and was one of the finest front row forwards to emerge from this school.

Some of his school team mates were Sudesh Abeyasinghe, Mohamed Nawaz, Ruwan Kalutara, Chaminda Chandrasena, Sujeewa Pieris, Ruwan Dananjaya, Bimal Perera, Sujeewa Panapitiya, A.G. Anura,Janaka Perera, Kelum Gunaratne, Sudath Sampath, Champika Nishantha MiyuruYuganthara, Chanka Jayaweera, Rohan Chintaka,, Hyacinth Kumara, Chamila Samantha. At club level first played for Havelock SC and later for Police, Kandy SC, CH and FC, CR and FC and Kandy Youth SC. He was a talented prop forward and also played as no. 8. He was rated as one of the most respected rugby forwards and widely considered as one of the best props to come from Isipathana College, and was rated as one of Asia’s top props.and is one of the most-capped players of all time.

He played for the Sri Lanka under 24 team and later for the Sri Lanka team from 1994 to 2003. He was involved in many tournaments in and out of Sri Lanka. Shanthan Rohana played in Sydney in the Aussie rugby season for the Pirate Harbour RFC along with Savantha de Saram, Viraj Prasantha, Duminda de Silva, Asanga Rodrigo and Alfred Hensman.

In 2012 Shantha Rohana coached the Kandy Police side to win the 10-a-side rugby championship in the Inter Police Sports Competition of Kandy Division, The ten-a-side champion team was made of players like Kulasena(Capt.), Indrajith, Rafaideen, Bandara, Piyasena, Prabath, Perera, Buddhika, Piyatissa, Sugathadasa, Kulasena, Krishantha, At that time SSP T. Peramune and DIG Nihal Samarakoon gave a big hand for the champion team. Today many think of 15s or sevens when talking about rugby, but the game is made up of many other formats: 10-a-side, tag rugby, touch rugby and beach rugby, in particular, these other formats are growing in popularity in other countries.

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