P. M. Jayatilaka – An Outstanding Educationist and Cricketer
P. M. Jayatilaka had the proud distinction of scoring the first century in the Ananda–Nalanda series. He was an outstanding educationist and an exemplary principal who moulded thousands of productive citizens of Sri Lanka.
Certain names of devoted, dedicated, and visionary principals are forever inseparable from the great seats of learning they guided. To name a few: Warden Stone, Canon de Saram, and Neville de Alwis of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia; Dr. P. de S. Kularatne and L. H. Mettananda of Ananda College, Colombo; Dr. Gunapala Malalasekara and Wickramaratne of Nalanda College, Colombo; Father Peter Pillai of St. Joseph’s College, Maradana; F. L. Woodward of Mahinda College, Galle; S. A. Wijetileke of Dharmaraja College, Kandy; Mrs. Pullimood and Clara Motwani of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo; and Dr. Wimala de Silva and Kalyani de Zoysa of Devi Balika Vidyalaya.
In the same way, the names of Ibbagamuwa Central College, Thurstan College, Colombo, and P. M. Jayatilaka are inseparable.
A Cricketer of Great Repute
Jayatilaka was more than an educationist; he was one of the finest left-handed batsmen of his era, a colossus among schoolboy cricketers in Ceylon during the 1920s. A brilliant product of Nalanda College, he made an unbeaten 111 against their arch-rivals Ananda in 1927, a record that stood for over 40 years until equalled by Carl Obeysekera. It was finally surpassed in 1972 by Bandula Warnapura.
After Nalanda, he represented Colts Cricket Club in the domestic circuit but sacrificed his promising cricket career to serve as an educationist. He was undoubtedly an ornament to both cricket and education.
Early Life and Education
P. M. Jayatilaka was born on 10th October 1909 to an esteemed family in Madawala, Negombo. His father was an Ayurvedic physician and his mother was Clara Garlin de Silva. His only sister was the late Dr. Wimala de Silva, the eminent educationist and founder of Devi Balika Vidyalaya.
He began schooling at Newstead Girls’ School, Negombo, before entering Wesley College, Colombo, as a boarder at the age of 10. Wesley provided him with a multicultural upbringing among Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, and Malays of all faiths. At the age of 12, he was selected to play for the Wesley College 3rd XI, coached by Terrence de Silva. Later, through the influence of his uncles, he moved to Mahinda College, Galle, and finally joined Nalanda College in 1925.
At Nalanda, he flourished as both a scholar and cricketer, eventually captaining the school team and scoring the historic first century in the Ananda–Nalanda “Big Match” series.
Academic and Teaching Career
Jayatilaka entered University College, Colombo, specializing in Sinhala, English, and Classics (Latin and Greek). Due to family financial difficulties, he sought employment and began his teaching career in Negombo. He later joined St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, where his cricketing brilliance won the admiration of students who initially underestimated him as a “Sinhala master.”
In the 1940s, following the Central Schools movement initiated by Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara, P. M. Jayatilaka was appointed the founding principal of Ibbagamuwa Central College. He transformed the school from a temporary shed with 60 students into a model institution resembling a “mini-university.” Later, in the 1960s, he became Principal of Thurstan College, Colombo, where he initiated the Thurstan–Isipathana Big Match.
He also served as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association Selection Committee, playing a pivotal role in selecting the Sri Lanka Schools team to tour India in 1969.
Personal Life and Legacy
Jayatilaka married Sumittha Rupesinghe of Balapitiya in 1946. They were blessed with three daughters: Preethi Kumudini, Deepa Shyamali, and Saroja. A devoted Buddhist, he was also a fine English and Latin scholar, a conversationalist, and a disciplinarian admired by both colleagues and students.
This great educationist, principal, scholar, and cricketer passed away on 19th June 2001.
Tribute
“Dear Sir, we are ever grateful to you and will always remember you. May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana!”