The CBSL Governor Who Led Sri Lanka Rugby

He sat in the driving seat of Sri Lanka's Economy as the 14th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, who was also a Rugby Captain who led Sri Lanka in one of the historic matches on home turf!

Born on a day like this in 1950, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy first studied at Royal College in his early days and after migrating to England, he was enrolled at Harrow College where he captained the school cricket team in his senior years.

He joined Emmanuel College, Cambridge for his BA(Hons) and MA, and also played First Class cricket for the Cambridge University Cricket Club. He received his doctorate from the University of Sussex. Returning back to Sri Lanka, he joined the Economic Research Division of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in 1973.

Leading Sri Lanka at the 1974 Asiad

While he was employed at the CBSL, he was playing rugby (CR & FC) and first-class cricket (Tamil Union) as well. It happened so in 1974 when Sri Lanka, for the first time, organised an ASIAD and it was a major turning point in Sri Lanka rugby history in becoming a host nation.

Despite being only 24 years, he had to step up as the captain because YC Chang faced a suspension from Club Rugby. Filling in some big boots as a young captain, he managed to lead Sri Lanka into the finals against the mighty Japanese. Sri Lanka lost 44-06 in the finals and emerged runners up, only to the Giants of Asian Rugby, a massive moment for the Sri Lankan team.

Dr. Coomaraswamy carried by the runner up Sri Lanka team

One of the highlights was actually what happened before the match. The security guard at the CR&FC refused to believe that he was the captain of the Sri Lanka team (as already mentioned there was a captaincy change) and Dr. Coomaraswamy in a very gentlemanly manner, did not argue any further and ended up buying a ticket to a match he was supposed to play in as captain!

This story was related by our good journalist friend Muaad Razick, who attended a special event where Dr. Coomaraswamy was present as a speaker.

14th Governor of the Central Bank

After his early retirement from rugby in 1977, he played many roles in macroeconomic development, research and policy making, an advisor. He also held many other positions in the cooperate sector until in 2016, he succeeded Arjun Mahendran to become the 14th Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

"They don’t make them like Indrajit Coomaraswamy any more. The calm and self-effacing governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka spent most of his career behind the scenes, working diligently to give strength and structure to a fragile frontier market." - an extract from an article by Elliot Wilson titled "Sri Lanka's reluctant savior" which describes the kind of decision maker he were.

Clarke Kent? No that's Dr. Coomaraswamy!

Having retired from the post in 2019, he still continues to work in advisory roles after the recent economic crisis. Marrying to Tara De Fonseka, they have two sons Imran (a researcher in Mathematics) and Arjun, the latter being a singer also known for his rendition of "Oye Ojaye" by the Gypsies. Notably, he is also the brother of renowned diplomat and UN Representative Radhika Coomaraswamy.

Here's to wishing this rugby legend and former CBSL governor on his 75th birthday today!