Rex Clementine in The Sunday Island, July 2025
Sri Lanka’s Ruchira Palliyaguruge entered an elite club on Saturday when he stood in his 100th One-Day International, joining only Asoka de Silva and Kumar Dharmasena as the island’s umpires to have reached the three-figure mark in the 50-over format.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 20: Umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge of Sri Lanka during the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match between New Zealand and England at Eden Park on March 20, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Fiona Goodall-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
The landmark game took place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Ruchira has risen through the ranks with quiet determination and an unwavering commitment to the game’s highest standards.
A proud product of St. Servatius College in Matara, Ruchira was once a fiery right-arm quick and a solid top-order bat. He shared the new ball — and the opening stand — with none other than Sanath Jayasuriya, who in his school days bowled brisk seam-up before later turning to his trademark left-arm spin.
A proud product of St. Servatius College in Matara, Ruchira was once a fiery right-arm quick and a solid top-order bat. He shared the new ball — and the opening stand — with none other than Sanath Jayasuriya, who in his school days bowled brisk seam-up before later turning to his trademark left-arm spin.
Though Ruchira’s playing days never culminated in a national cap despite a lengthy First-Class career, he wasn’t ready to walk back to the pavilion just yet. Instead, he traded in his whites for the umpire’s hat in 2011, starting at the grassroots in Division III cricket — a far cry from the bright lights of international stadia. From there, he rose steadily through the umpiring ladder and is now a respected member of the ICC’s International Panel.
The 57-year-old has since stood in matches across all major cricket playing nations. His Test debut came in Dhaka in 2018 in a clash between Bangladesh and the West Indies. He has also featured in three ICC Men’s World Cups — the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand, the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, and the 2019 World Cup in England.
Known for his calm demeanour, sharp judgment and astute reading of the Laws, Ruchira has earned the respect of players and peers alike. While he may have missed out on representing Sri Lanka with bat or ball, he has more than made up for it by becoming a respected umpire.
…………….by Rex Clementine ✍️
