Percy Abeysekera
Abeysekera in 2011
Born	W. D. Percy Gimson Mendis Abeysekera (1936-07-30)30 July 1936 Boossa, Sri Lanka
Died	30 October 2023(2023-10-30) (aged 87) [Place of passing]
Other names	Uncle Percy
Education	Richmond College, Galle St. Aloysius' College, Galle Siri Rathanasara Vidyalaya Beddegama Aquinas University College Colombo
Spouse	Meloney De Silva (m. 1968; died 2010)
Children	Sampath Garfield (son) Nadeesh Nimmi (daughter)
Website	www.percyabeysekera.com

W. D. Percy Gimson Mendis Abeysekera (30 July 1936 – 30 October 2023), known as Uncle Percy, was a Sri Lankan cricket superfan for over seven decades. He was celebrated for his passionate cheerleading, dedication to the sport, and his charismatic presence on the cricket field. Abeysekera's journey through the world of cricket began as a young enthusiast, ultimately becoming a celebrated icon whose name became synonymous with Sri Lankan cricket worldwide.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Abeysekera's impact on the cricketing world extended beyond the boundaries of the playing field. His unwavering support for Sri Lankan cricket and his dedication to the sport made him a cherished figure among cricket fans, both in Sri Lanka and internationally. With a career spanning over seven decades, he witnessed the evolution of the sport and became an integral part of the cricketing culture. ^{[7][8][9][10][11][12][3][4][5][6]}

Early life and family

Percy Abeysekera was born on July 30, 1936, in the coastal town of Boossa, Sri Lanka. In 1968, Abeysekera married Meloney De Silva from Moratuwa, and they enjoyed a happy marriage until her passing on September 24, 2010. They had two children: Sampath Garfield, their elder son, and Nadeesh Nimmi, their daughter. ^{[13][14][15][6]}

Education

He received his early education at Richmond College, Galle and St. Aloysius' College, Galle, where he developed a deep love for cricket. His educational journey continued at Siri Rathanasara Vidyalaya Beddegama and Aquinas University College Colombo.^{[16][17][15][6]}

Professional life

Abeysekera's professional journey began with a stint at Associate Motorways (AMW) in Nagoda, Kalutara, from 1961 to 1962. This marked the start of his career, and he then transitioned to a more active role in the world of cricket. He then joined ACL Cables Factory, a subsidiary of the AMW Group, in 1962, marking the beginning of a career that would span over five decades.^{[7][8][9][10][11][6]}

Cheerleading and cricket

Abeysekera's passion for cricket was evident from a young age. He made his debut as a cheerleader with the Lion flag in 1979, and his enthusiasm for the sport soon became infectious. For decades, he became a significant presence at cricket matches, his iconic presence gracing cricket grounds with his ever-flying Lion flag.^[18][2][4]

He witnessed his first international cricket match in 1948, an encounter between Australia and All Ceylon at the P Sara Stadium. This match featured the legendary Don Bradman and marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with the sport.^[18][4]

Abeysekera's dedication to cricket extended beyond cheerleading. He also played an active role as a cricketer, donning the jersey of St. Aloysius’ College's 2nd XI and Aquinas University College's cricket team. Notably, he captained the first AMW cricket team to win the Mercantile 'G' Division title in 1968, triumphing over Lake House at Rifle Green (Air Force Ground) in Colombo.^{[15][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

During his illustrious career, Abeysekera was part of some remarkable moments in cricket history. He danced onboard an airplane with Sir Garfield Sobers, the then Lankan coach, on the way back to Colombo after the 1983 World Cup in England. He even played a heroic role in helping save the life of Sir Garfield when a mob threatened to set fire to his car during the height of the 1983 July riots. ^[15][4]

Abeysekera's unwavering support for Sri Lankan cricket led him to cheer for Warnapura’s Sri Lanka in a Test at Chepauk, despite facing death threats from the LTTE tigers in Madras in 1982. He also stood firm in his support of Sri Lanka during her inaugural Test at Lord’s, even in the face of threats from the British police. In recognition of his love of cricket and patriotism, Martin Crowe presented Percy with two of his Man of the Match trophies. ^{[7][8][9][10][11][16][17][4]}

Abeysekera was given a donation of Rs 5 million for his health and well-being in 2023 September.^[19]

Death

Abeysekera died on 30 October 2023, at the age of 87.^[13][20]

Legacy

Abeysekera's enduring presence on cricket grounds has earned him many high-profile friends in the sport. Former India captain Ravi Shastri once wrote, "Percy, don't lose your voice. Sri Lanka needs it more than you."^{[16][17][15][1][12][4][6]}

His impact extended beyond borders. Former New Zealand captain, the late Martin Crowe,^[21][22] once gave away his Man of the Match award to Percy, recognizing the profound role he played in the cricketing world.^[15][1][4]

Abeysekera's passion for cricket once led to an unexpected encounter with the law. In Australia, he was briefly arrested for entering the field of play. Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist protested, warning not to turn this into an international crisis.^{[7][8][9][10][11][16][17][15][1][12][4]}

See also

• Chacha Cricket, a fan of the Pakistan cricket team
• Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary, a fan of the Indian cricket team

References

External links

• Percy Abeysekera Website