Errol Fernando in Melbourne
I am deeply saddened to hear of my very old friend Lareef’s death. He was my neighbour in Kollupitiya, Colombo 3. From the time I was 6 or 7 years old I played cricket with him under the coconut trees. The railway line and the sea were just behind the batsman! Lareef loved to bowl, and I loved to bat and so we were both happy! I spent hours, days, weeks, months and years facing his bowling. He came up with new tricks all the time and used the sea breeze very effectively! I have no memory of him batting and me bowling !
Years later, Lareef became a schoolboy sensation, bamboozling batsmen left, right and centre. I was hearing in Kandy about his exploits, and thrilled about my old friend’s glory and fame. And then I travelled from Kandy to Mount Lavinia to play against my old friend’s school by the sea. I didn’t give a thought to Lareef because I was far more concerned about how to stay alive facing the thunderbolts of Demon fast bowler Dennis Ferdinands . The Thomians probably had a fleet of hearses as well as coffins ready to transport the batsmen’s corpses to Kanatte cemetery. Fortunately, Dennis failed to kill any of us.
I even had the joy of facing my old friend Lareef. Nothing could have been more familiar! When you have faced millions of deliveries under the coconut trees you have a fair idea what to expect. All I remember was that he did not get me out! I also remember that the best bowler in the match was Eric Roles. The headline in the newspaper was, ‘ Roles bowls Thomians’! I presume that Eric would have been ‘Man of the Match’.
Many years later my friend Buddy Reid met me walking around in the pavilion at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. We were watching Kumar Sangakkara making yet another century. I had my infant granddaughter in my arms because I was doing some babysitting. Then Buddy said,’ Errol, please do not move. Stay where you are because I have a great SURPRISE for you’. Off he went and I did not move! And then Buddy returned with my surprise! He came back with Lareef Idroos! I had not seen Lareef for 56 years! I nearly dropped my granddaughter! How did I manage to give Lareef a huge hug while carrying my granddaughter?? It was a wonderful moment indeed, and thank you, Buddy !
Farewell, dear Lareef. Mohan Sahayam quite rightly calls you a ‘Legend and an icon’. Of course you are. And to me, you are my very dear friend under the coconut trees.
May you Rest in Peace,
Years Later … This picture shows Lareef dwarfed by two Thomian Michaels of his vitage: Michael Tissera on his right and Michael Sproule on his left
A COMMENT From Michael Roberts, 3 September 2025
Errol Fernando’s pater was a competent wicket-keeper batsman who was of Ceylon Eleven standard. Errol Fernando, like me, was not quite that level — unlike Lareef Idroos [whom I can vaguely recall seeing in action at an international match at Peradeniya University] who was Ceylon-class like Tissera and Mano Ponniah.
Errol’s penmanship outdoes even his brilliance as a fielder: his is an exquisite VALE for a lad and a man — a Ceylonese man — worthy of a place in a Lankan Hall of Fame.
Everything is impermanent. But memories remain alive.