by Rex Clementine

Kandy’s leading lawyer Kshema Sangakkara chose the best for his children – Trinity for schooling, Bertie Wijesinha for cricket and Quentin Israel for rugby. No wonder son Kumar ended up as Sri Lanka’s highest run getter in Test cricket. Like Kshema, Chandra Schaffter too chose the best things for his children – Sherwood Hall in Madras for education and Bertie Wijesinha for cricket.

Chandra is Sri Lanka’s oldest living cricketer. His youngest son Dinesh, who was brutally murdered a fortnight ago, had played for Finchly Cricket Club in the Middlesex League. When he returned to Sri Lanka, the Tamil Union side had champion spinners of the caliber of Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana, Niroshan Bandarathileke and Rangana Herath, so he opted to ply his trade at Moors Sports Club, which he represented in 16 First Class games.

Dinesh was more than a decent bowler. His career best of six for 58 came against SSC and his victims included a certain M.S. Atapattu. Nothing flashy about his batting but he had the distinction of opening the batting and even going down at number 11. There was a bit of Kaushal Silva in Dinesh as he would never throw his wicket and had a knack of hanging in there. Once against NCC when he opened batting, Moors were falling apart like a pack of cards but Dinesh remained not out on one. Russel Arnold never one to shy away from a sledge reminded Dinesh that he better score a second run before the team is bowled out. Dinesh was too sweet a guy. Any other chap would have asked Russell whether he is the ugliest person to have played Test cricket for Sri Lanka?

Dinesh was also brilliant academically. He was only 18 when he completed his CIMA, becoming the youngest to do so.

Dinesh was a committee member of Moors SC at the time of his untimely death at the age of 51. His killing has sent shock waves in society and many were the cricketers who turned up to pay their last respect from Sanath Jayasuriya to Chaminda Vaas.

Since Dinesh’s death, there have been various theories and motives that have been out in public with some even claiming that he may have committed suicide and his businesses were bankrupt. Police have not concluded investigations and have asked the public not to jump into conclusions. The death and the case progressing at snail’s pace has been little consolation for Dinesh’s family. Don’t forget the fact that people owed Dinesh money and not the other way around.

The Island’s Editor is a veteran journalist counting close to 40 years of experience. He is very well versed on any subject be it Pele or President Premadasa. His theories are quite interesting and rarely does he get things wrong. When investigators were unable to make significant breakthroughs in the killing of fellow newspaper Editor Lasantha Wickramatunga, he commented that behind every unsolved crime, there’s a powerful politician. Truer words haven’t been spoken.