The funeral of champion racing driver Dilshan Bandaranayake (38) took place at 2.30 p.m. at Mahiyawa Cemetery in Kandy amid a large gathering yesterday.
His death occurred when he was moving fast on the track in his Mini Austin Seven – 1000cc in the N’Eliya motor racing event.
Before his demise, Bandaranayake has taken part in Foxhill Super Cross at Diyatalawa and come to N’Eliya for the supervised practices and has timed the fastest. On the same day he returned to Kandy after practices and left Sunday morning to reach N’Eliya at 6.30 p.m.
He has done a few running around the track and has been seen in an uninterrupted conversation for three hours from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with racing drivers Anil Jayakoddy, Yoga Perera, Kandan Parameswaran, Mohan Madugalle and Jiffery Abdeen before he left the Paddock to take part in the ill-fated event.
Banadranayake, an old Rajan who excelled in sports at school, took to motor racing four years ago. He excelled in Mini Austin racing and was a champion driver wining races at Pannala, Eliyakanda, Magastota, Radella, Kotmale hill climb and Fox Hill.
He once held a record in 2006 in Mini 1000cc in 44.32 secs. which was broken this year ironically by Ajith Hemachandra who was involved in this collision before Bandarnayake’s death. He was also a founder member of the Kandy 4X4 Motor Racing Club.
Bandranayake, a humble man caught up finer points of motor racing in quick time and was engaged in the sport according to the rules and had no complaints. He become tragically the first racing driver/rider from Kandy to die on the track. Incidentally he had a minor crash at the same track two years ago 200 yards in front but he escaped with minor injuries. His driving was regarded in the class of Mini Specialist Maurice Perera, Kingsly Perera and Priya Munasinghe.
Above all he was a fine gentleman who helped other divers. His death took place miserably on the day of his daughter’s and wife’s birthday. It is learnt that he has stated his wife on the day of her birthday before leaving to N’Eliya: "Even if I die, please cut the birthday cake of Kavya (his daughter)."
It was also seen that a table was laid with cakes and many other sweets for the occasion and especially for the arrival of the beloved father and the husband. But he never came. Dilshan, a well established businessman, leaves behind his wife and two daughters.
Source; The Island
His death occurred when he was moving fast on the track in his Mini Austin Seven – 1000cc in the N’Eliya motor racing event.
Before his demise, Bandaranayake has taken part in Foxhill Super Cross at Diyatalawa and come to N’Eliya for the supervised practices and has timed the fastest. On the same day he returned to Kandy after practices and left Sunday morning to reach N’Eliya at 6.30 p.m.
He has done a few running around the track and has been seen in an uninterrupted conversation for three hours from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with racing drivers Anil Jayakoddy, Yoga Perera, Kandan Parameswaran, Mohan Madugalle and Jiffery Abdeen before he left the Paddock to take part in the ill-fated event.
Banadranayake, an old Rajan who excelled in sports at school, took to motor racing four years ago. He excelled in Mini Austin racing and was a champion driver wining races at Pannala, Eliyakanda, Magastota, Radella, Kotmale hill climb and Fox Hill.
He once held a record in 2006 in Mini 1000cc in 44.32 secs. which was broken this year ironically by Ajith Hemachandra who was involved in this collision before Bandarnayake’s death. He was also a founder member of the Kandy 4X4 Motor Racing Club.
Bandranayake, a humble man caught up finer points of motor racing in quick time and was engaged in the sport according to the rules and had no complaints. He become tragically the first racing driver/rider from Kandy to die on the track. Incidentally he had a minor crash at the same track two years ago 200 yards in front but he escaped with minor injuries. His driving was regarded in the class of Mini Specialist Maurice Perera, Kingsly Perera and Priya Munasinghe.
Above all he was a fine gentleman who helped other divers. His death took place miserably on the day of his daughter’s and wife’s birthday. It is learnt that he has stated his wife on the day of her birthday before leaving to N’Eliya: "Even if I die, please cut the birthday cake of Kavya (his daughter)."
It was also seen that a table was laid with cakes and many other sweets for the occasion and especially for the arrival of the beloved father and the husband. But he never came. Dilshan, a well established businessman, leaves behind his wife and two daughters.
Source; The Island
