Rajendran Rajamahendran (1943-2021) was a silent servant of Sri Lanka’s cricket since the early days the country got Test status up until she reached the game's pinnacle[/caption]
Rajandram or Rajendran Rajamahendran, the Chairman of the Capital Maharaja Group, passed away on Sunday (25) aged 78. R. Rajamahendran, affectionately known as ‘Killi Maharaja’ passed away while he was receiving treatment for Covid-19 at a private hospital in Colombo.
Leading Sri Lanka national cricketers who helped raise country’s game into world standards particularly in the 1980s, hailed in unison how Rajamahendran, former Royal College, Colombo alumni, collaborated with the national cricket administration in aiding lifting the standards of the team.
He recognised my talent - Roy Dias
Mr. R. Rajamahendran, fondly known as ‘Killi, was a very special person. Cricket was his first love and helping cricketers was no second.
He recognised my talent and offered me employment at the Maharajah Organization.
I was not the only one. He employed so many other cricketers.
He made sure we were financially stable and rewarded us on our performances. I remember he used to follow us around, even on tours overseas.
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Roy Dias[/caption]
He would go to the extent of visiting us at the hotel and enquire of our wellbeing and needs.
I am aware that even to date he has a number of cricketers employed by the Group.
His demise will be a great loss, not only to the cricketing fraternity, but to the business community and fellow citizens of various walks of life, whom he had helped and continued to help even to the end.
May his soul rest in peace!
I have no worlds to express how sad I am - Duleep Mendis
It is very sad to her the demise of Mr. Rajamahendran. I was working for him for over28 years from the time I left school in 1972-73. I started my career at the Maharajas and I was with him right through, during bad times and good times.
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Duleep Mendis[/caption]
And there were so many cricketers who benefitted from him. Especially from the outstations, he used to bring boys whenever he thought they had some future, he would employ them and told them to just concentrate on their cricket.
He had done a lot for Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka cricket. Even before the 1984 tour of England, to London, and to Lord’s (for the famous Lord’s Test where Sidath Wettimuny, Mendis, and Amal Silva scored centuries), he took over the team, he managed, and he did everything. And it was a very successful tour for Sri Lanka.
He was the key person behind Mercantile Cricket. Those days we used to have Maharajas, Browns, Tobacco and so many other companies who keenly contested in that Mercantile Tournament. Some of the best Sri Lankan cricket players played in that and it was so interesting at that time.
How many cricketers he had helped? I have no worlds to express how sad I am. He has been a tremendous influence in my life from the time I started my career, he was behind me and he was guiding me, not only in cricket, but he gave me career as well.
I deeply miss him. May his soul rest in peace!
He was my mentor - Arjuna Ranatunga
Mr. Rajamahendran, known to some as ‘Killi’ or ‘RR’, but will forever be ‘Sir’ to me, has made contributions to our country and society that are too great to ever be overcome. He pioneered a new age media, saw the potential in small businesses and expanded them into conglomerates, and shaped and moulded sports by helping in the development of cricket, cricketers, and other sports from the shadows.
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Arjuna Ranatunga[/caption]
However, for me, Mr. Rajamahendran was a father, and as such, it has taken me some time to come to terms with his passing. Nevertheless, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what Sir meant to me.
I was an 18-year-old teenager when I first got to know Mr. Rajamahendran, and over the past 40 years, he was a guiding light, a pillar of strength, and a voice inside my head, pushing me to greater heights, guiding me towards the right path, and encouraging me to fulfil my potential. In those 40 years, his door had always been open to me, whether it was for sports, politics, or for personal matters.
The shadow of Mr. Rajamahendran will be cast over every nook and corner of Sri Lanka for a very long time. The passing of such a leader is our country’s misfortune, especially at this crucial juncture.
In the last 30 years, I had made a habit of visiting Sir at his office. During these visits our conversations ranged from discussions about serious matters such as politics and sports, to talking absolute nonsense and hilarious things that cannot be made public. He was a father, but he was also my friend, and my mentor.
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Seated here on extreme left is R. ‘Killi’ Rajamahendran with the Sri Lanka and England cricket teams in England during the Lankans’ historic 1984 tour for the one-off Test at Lord’s, later became renowned for Sidath Wettimuny’s brilliant 190 and the team’s fighting display under Duleep Mendis. Also in the picture is the late Gamini Dissanayake (seated, fifth from right)[/caption]
Whenever I would visit him at his office, like a father, he would without fail, walk me down to my car, open the car door for me, make sure I was buckled in safely, bid me farewell, and stayed till I went through those gates.
Dear Sir,
If I had known that when I visited you two days prior to my departure to USA was the last time you’d bid me farewell, I would’ve stayed a little while longer, had another cup of coffee with that special cucumber sandwich, and hugged you a little longer.
You were a great gentleman and a special kind of human being. You taught me to be stronger, be smarter, and be humane.
I will forever be grateful for all the support you’ve given me over the last 40 years. You have played an immense role in moulding me into the sportsman I am, the politician I try to be, and the human being I aspire to be.
Thank you Sir. I will miss you dearly.