Sumanthiran Navaratnam: Lightning Streak on Track and Rugby Field

By K.L.F. Wijedasa

The Fastest man in Asia Sumanthiran Navaratnam passed away peacefully on October 19 at the age of 98. He not only blazed the track, but also stunned the spectators with his dazzling runs on the Rugby field.

Summa’s father, former Ceylon Civil servant S. S. Navaratnam and K. T. Navaratnam, daughter of Dr. C. S. Ratnam wanted their son to be groomed in the traditions of the British Public Schools. So Royal College was chosen for him to learn the books.

His athletic career started at Royal College in 1937 when he participated in the Inter House Athletic Meet.

Summa Nawaratnam clocked 10.4 seconds to win the 100 metres in Madras. It was considered the fastest performance in Asia. The medal won by Nawaratnam.

Inter School Athletics started in 1940. He was only 15 years of age. He was a member of the Royal College 4 x 100yds Relay team, which won both the Tarbat (overall Champions) and the Jefferson Relay Challenge cups that year. There were no athletic meets for two years due to the World War II.

Schools Athletic Meets were revived in 1943. Under his captaincy Royal Athletic Team, won both the Tarbat and the Jefferson Trophies. Summa won both Individual events, the 220 yds and the 440 yds. He could not participate in his pet event the 100yds as the 4×440 yds relay race was to follow immediately after. He won Royal College athletic colours as the youngest to win College Colours.

In 1944, representing The Royal College Old Boys at the Nationals Summa won the sprint doubles. He was the National Champion in the 100m, 200m in 1944,1946 and 1947. He won the Wilton Bartleet, for the Individual events.

In 1953 he ran the 100metres with Lavy Pinto of India. Both were timed 11.0 secs, however. Pinto was determined the winner.

As an up-and-coming young athlete, he was included in the 4x100m Relay team to compete at the Indo- Ceylon Athletic Meet in 1945. This team included outstanding athletes of the calibre of Duncan White, R. E. Kitto, and Basil Henricus.

In 1953 Summa participated in the Madras Provincial Olympic Games. He returned a time of 10.4secs in the 100meters which was the fastest timing recorded on a grass track in Asia. There after he was named the ‘Fastest man in Asia.” In this event he beat the Indian National Champion Ivan Jacobs. Yours truly was an undergraduate at the University of Peradeniya, at that time. When we read this news in the Daily Press we jumped for joy. As usual, there were some critics in the Athletic circles who mentioned that you could not depend on Indian Timekeepers. This was an amazing feat for a Ceylon athlete.

Very few know that Summa participated in the 1950 British Empire Games held in Auckland, New Zealand. He ran in the 100 yds and 220 Yds and was a member of the 4x440yds Relay along with Duncan White, Oscar Wijesinghe, and Vivian Blaze. They were placed fourth in the event.

I suppose people are not aware that he was one of the four honorary starters after J. A. Samarawickrema and Dalton Rabot.

He was an athletic coach of repute. Darrel Lievers, Luxman de Alwis of Moratu Vidyalaya, Jilska Flamer Caldera, and Nirmala Dissanayake were four of his trainees. The latter became the first woman to win a bronze medal in the 200 metres at an Asian Games.

When I was coaching Royal College athletes Summa was the rugby coach of Royal. He encouraged his rugby payers to participate in athletics. He said that athletics was the base for any sport. Thus, most of my athletes ended up as the wingers of his Bradby team.

As a coach he had a good rapport with his chargers. I am proud to be a co-holder of the 100meters National record with a great man like Summa.