Former Sri Lankan off-spinner Jayananda Warnaweera, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 64 after a brief illness, had his moments with the ball, but it was his deeds off the field that truly left a mark on the game.

A product of Mahinda College, Galle, Warnaweera was part of Sri Lanka’s golden milestones — their maiden Test wins over New Zealand in 1992 and England in 1993, both at SSC — claiming six and eight wickets in those encounters. But it is what he did as Galle International Stadium’s curator that is remembered most fondly.

A prolific wicket-taker for Galle Cricket Club, Warnaweera seamlessly slipped into a new role after retirement, becoming the heartbeat of the venue that was granted Test status in 1998. Soon, the ground turned into a happy hunting ground for spinners, a venue Sri Lankan bowlers loved and visiting batters dreaded.

With the Old Dutch Fort looming in the background, Galle became one of the most picturesque venues in the cricketing world. Even when the home side’s fortunes fluctuated, teams from around the world queued up for a game there, such was its charm and mystique.

Warnaweera treated the ground like his second home. When the 2004 tsunami wreaked havoc along the southern coast, flattening the stadium, he was front and centre in the massive rebuilding effort. Australian great Shane Warne, who had claimed his 500th Test wicket at the venue just months earlier, was among those who pledged support for the reconstruction.

By 2010, Galle had undergone a striking transformation with new dressing rooms, hospitality boxes, and a media centre — all fruits of Warnaweera’s vision and drive. During matches, he virtually lived at the ground, keeping an eagle eye on every inch of turf. It was his brainchild to have the entire playing area covered during rain, a move ahead of its time that other venues would soon copy. The lightning-fast efficiency of his groundstaff earned admiration from players and officials alike.

But Warnaweera’s influence stretched beyond the boundary lines. For two decades from 1995 to 2015, he was a powerbroker in Sri Lanka Cricket, helping shape its Executive Committee and often being described as a kingmaker. His methods were not everyone’s cup of tea, but he had a knack for getting things done. When the Archaeological Department objected to the new grandstand for blocking the view of the Fort, Warnaweera deftly renamed it the Mahinda Rajapaksa Pavilion, after the then-President — and the protests disappeared overnight.

In 2016, however, his long reign came to an abrupt halt when the ICC suspended him for failing to cooperate with a corruption probe. From then on, he withdrew from public life, spending his later years away from the spotlight.

Flamboyant, controversial and fiercely loyal to Galle, Jayananda Warnaweera divided opinion like few others. But one thing is beyond dispute — without him, Galle would never have become the fortress it is today.

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