Ranil Abeynaike passes away

21 February 2012 04:58 am - 63 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Prominent cricketing personality Ranil Abeynaike passed away this morning. A product of S. Thomas College Mt. Lavinia, he played for the 1st XI team with distinction and captained the college in the mid seventies and subsequently took over as head coach of the Thomian team which won the Royal Thomian.

A right arm bat and slow left arm bowler, Ranil played for the Sinhalese Sports Club and had a stint in Bedfordshire. He also represented the then Board President’s XI against a few touring sides including the West Indies.

While Abeynaike was a renowned commentator covering international cricket, he was also a first class curator with the somewhat fast SSC pitch being his creation.

According to sources, Abeynaike passed away due to a heart attack in Colombo in the early hours of today. (ThePapare.com)

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Comments - 63

hewa Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:32 PM

A true gentleman associated with the gentlemen's game...it is very sad that we have lost him too early !

Shankar Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:34 AM

I only know him as a commentator. The only Srilankan commentator has never shown the excitement when the home team perform well. That is great thing for a commentator. You did it Ranil. Rest in peace.

Royalist Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:38 AM

A true friend and a gentlemen to the fingertips. A great loss to the cricketing world of Sri Lanka. One of the best cricket commentators in our time. Rest - in - Peace.

Desh Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:45 AM

Death comes when its not expected. That's the way life is. We won't see you at the Big Match, but would think of you!

ksm Zarook Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:40 AM

Very sad day for Sri Lanka, the sudden demise of Ranil Abeynaike is great loss to Sri Lanka cricket. May he rest in peace

Jagath mendis Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:46 AM

So sad your untimely departure , Remember you as a player and lovely commentator and more importantly great gentlemen
will miss you

May you attain nibbana

Raj K Tuesday, 21 February 2012 09:13 AM

May you rest in peace. SL will remember your service to cricket.

smith-howard Tuesday, 21 February 2012 09:25 AM

esto perpetua

all thomians share the grief of so sudden a dismissal-after such a great innings retired hurt-great man-good spinner

rest in peace

Mohamed Tuesday, 21 February 2012 09:45 AM

Gentleman par excellence. He was my 1st cricket coach and helped me get the SSC membership.

Hoodwinked Tuesday, 21 February 2012 10:05 AM

A fine cricketer, a coach, top class curator an unbiased but patriotic commentator above all a gentle par excellence who made his alma mater proud. May the turf rest softly on you

Awjapan Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:27 AM

RIP.We miss your comments.

CDH Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:02 PM

Absolutely demoralizing when we hear such unbearably sad news..

Anton Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:03 PM

May you rest in peace.You wil allways be in hearts of all the cricket lovers.

elton Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:58 AM

esto perpetua, sada kal dinewa dude

Raj Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:19 PM

Great human being and a God fearing gentleman. We shall meet on the other shore.

Wasantha Wijewardane Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:15 PM

His talents were not utilized to the maximum by the authorities. A case in point is replacing him in the commentary box with mediocre Sanath. Sorry dear Ranil. That is Sri Lanka.

joker Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:18 AM

R.I.P, Mr. Abeynaike.
You will be missed....and thank you for the wonderful commentaries.

Fazana Fernando Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:47 PM

So shocked to hear the sad news,
May you rest in peace

Jazzy Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:39 PM

A great loss to Sri Lankan cricket fans. May He Rest in Peace

jim Tuesday, 21 February 2012 01:03 PM

May his soul rest in peace. we lost a great cricketer of Srilanka.
dubai

oscarkenneth Tuesday, 21 February 2012 01:22 PM

R I P

Real Brains Tuesday, 21 February 2012 01:30 PM

Well..he was a good cricketer etc..
what people need to learn from this is Alcohol kills

Pol Pol Tuesday, 21 February 2012 01:54 PM

We will miss the services of a humble gentleman whose cricketing knowledge and abilty just led him to fame. He will certainly be missed by the cricketing faternity. May he Rest in Peace.

Shatha Tuesday, 21 February 2012 02:03 PM

Great commentator, will miss all cricketing lovers in the world.

kumar s.s. India Tuesday, 21 February 2012 02:29 PM

It is very sad to read the news.
GOD GAVE A TALENT TO RANIL SENT HIM TO THIS
EARTH TO USE THE TALENT, HE USED IT WELL,AND
IT WAS TIME FOR HIMRANIL TO RETURN TO BEAUTIFUL LAND

Lankan Tuesday, 21 February 2012 02:42 PM

Like Don Quixote said, Ranil's death is a good example for the saying "good people young die". Real Brains, you are too a good example for the opposite!

Abbath Tuesday, 21 February 2012 03:37 PM

His passing comes as a real shocker! The thing to note however is that he will always be remebered as an unbiased commentator and a true gentleman! He will be missed! Condolences go out to his family!

Raj Tuesday, 21 February 2012 03:31 PM

I have know him for the past five years or so and I know that he had commited his life to the living Saviour and refrained from consuming alcohol.

Indira Perera Tuesday, 21 February 2012 03:48 PM

SAD NEWS. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
MAY GOD GRANT STRENGTH TO HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AT THIS DIFFICULT MOMENT.

Indira Perera Wednesday, 22 February 2012 02:47 AM

Sad News. May He Rest in Peace.
May God grant strength to his family members at this difficult time.
Indira

chandrakumar Wednesday, 22 February 2012 06:46 AM

Sad to hear the news of passing away of Ranil . A gentleman
produced by S.Thomas Mt.Lavinia. Loss to Sri Lanka Cricket where you do not find honest gentlemen these days.
May he R.I.P
Chandrakumar

H ISMAIL Wednesday, 22 February 2012 07:29 AM

We missed the great man for cricket world and to the entire country of Srilanka.

Gamini Udagepola Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:51 AM

RIP Ranil.. Great Loss for SL Cricket no doubt...

scrap_metal Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:25 AM

R.I.P. Mr. abeynaike..

M.Faizel Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:15 AM

what a shock,

We knew ranil from his school days, a wily left arm legspinner who captained the team in 1973.
If my memory serves me right that was the year thomians won the schools.limited overs tourney .
They were living at desaram road as his father orville abeynaike was the head master during that time.
I could still remember the Abeynaike family with their four sons attending the anglican churc at mount avenue .on sundays.
A gentlemne to fingertips may his soul rest in peace

padma Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:28 AM

R I P

Fazzy Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:17 AM

Really sad news, you will be dearly missed by Srilankan cricket fans. RIP sir

SUREN Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:20 AM

He was a gentleman Cricketer. Who played the game fair. His presence in the commentary box will be missed. May he Rest In Peace.

Tharaka Chanaka Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:32 AM

A dear and wonderful friend indeed. God bless you Sir!

Kangarro Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:28 AM

R.I.P

sxhabeeb Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:42 AM

Day by day we are loosing legends and grates. Thank you for your services you rendered to us. this will be one of our sadest farewell.... RIP

mario Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:47 AM

I shall miss his commentaries & SL cricket has lost a good curator. Goodbye Mr. Abeynaike!

DHA Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:43 AM

RIP dear friend......we will always remember the service you rendered for the progress of Cricket .......

Royalist Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:55 AM

Good Cricketer both at school at early 1970's (not Mid 70's) and National level later pre test era

The famous 3R's at STC team in 1971/72 - Abeynayake , Abeywardane & Abeygunawardane

May he Rest in Peace!

SL Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:56 AM

R.I.P. dear friend!

kondebendapucheena Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:57 AM

RIP

Ishan Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:48 AM

RIP Mr.Abeynaike

Gamini Udagepola Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:50 AM

RIP Ranil.. Great Loss to SL Cricket, no doubt...

Labby Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:19 AM

Esto Perpetua.

Rest in Peace, brother !

Shami Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:05 AM

RIP Sir=(

Hk Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:58 AM

Rip ! Great commentator n great voice of cricket !!

Rathnaweera Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:10 AM

A wonderful and a humble person. He did a yeoman servce to cricket in Sri Lanka, in partiuclar, STC and SSC.
My sympathies with his family @ this difficult moment. I am sure going through the memory lane of his conduct and contribution to the society will definitely give courage to face the untimely death of Mr. Abeynayake. May he rest in peace.!

Asitha Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:11 AM

We will miss you. RIP Ranil.

lal Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:03 AM

Its a shock to me.He is a gentlemen, like Mr.Ranjan Madugalla.There are very few we count by fingers.Mr Ranil is one of .My deep thy sympathies.

willows Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:19 AM

Great loss to cricketing world, our deepest sympathy to his family, may he rest in peace.

Kane Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:28 AM

R.I.P

Sarath Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:31 AM

My memory goes back to 1982 where I had the opportunity to talk to him. I can still remember his warmth and friendliness despite my being a total stranger to him. Sir, may you attain Nibbana.

azeez Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:33 AM

Very sad news. An acquaintance of mine at Levers years ago, I admired him as sincere and down-to-earth. A great loss indeed.

Gayan Samarasekara Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:29 AM

Our deepest condolences... to the family of the best English Cricket commentator Sri Lanka had... May you rest in peace...

Mlisha Tuesday, 21 February 2012 06:56 AM

I have never spoken to him, although I have seen him at SSC.

He never knew me.

But he was the PROPOSER for my admission to SSC membership.

Thank you very much SIR.

May your soul RIP and condolences to his family.

U.D.G.Seneviratne Tuesday, 21 February 2012 07:15 AM

What a sad news, So, we don’t hear that great Voice again (pitch report & superb int’l standard commentaries etc..) OMG, we lack good quality people in cricket like Ranil (True Gentleman)…too young to RIP. SL Cricket misses you dearly, RIP Ranil Abeynayake. Whole cricketing world’s prayers with your family.

DonQuixote Tuesday, 21 February 2012 07:47 AM

They say the "good die young" here is a prime example.

He was too genuine and straightforward to prosper in the Sri Lankan cricket environment,

Pity it had to happen when he had achieved success as an international commentator, he deserved to enjoy it.

Commonwealth Tuesday, 21 February 2012 08:11 AM

A Gentleman. Had the opportunity to have a friendly chat at SSC and Royal Thomian. May you rest in peace my friend. Esto Per petua

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Ranil Abeynaike passes away

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