Vijaya Malalasekera

{{Short description|Sri Lankan cricketer, cricket administrator, barrister, and businessman (1945–2022)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name =

| image =

| country = Sri Lanka

| fullname = Vijaya Prasanna Malalasekera

| birth_date = {{birth date|1945|8|8|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Colombo, Western Province, Ceylon

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|2|5|1945|8|8|df=yes}}

| death_place =

| nickname =

| family =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Unknown

| role =

| club1 = Cambridge University

| year1 = 1966–1968

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 27

| runs1 = 699

| bat avg1 = 14.26

| 100s/50s1 = –/2

| top score1 = 80

| deliveries1 = 19

| wickets1 = 0

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 11/–

| date = 26 January

| year = 2022

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/17286.html Cricinfo

}}

Vijaya Prasanna Malalasekera (8 August 1945 – 5 February 2022) was a Sri Lankan first-class cricketer and cricket administrator, in addition to being a barrister and a businessman.{{cite web|url=https://www.thepapare.com/slc-express-condolences-on-the-passing-away-of-vijaya-malalasekara/ |title=SLC express condolences on the passing away of Vijaya Malalasekara |work=The Papare |access-date=7 February 2022}}

Malalasekera was born in Colombo on 8 August 1945. His father was Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, an academic and a diplomat.{{cite web |title=Dr. G. P. Gunapala Malalasekara (1899-1973) Great scholar and world renowned Buddhist leader - News Features {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/News-Features/Dr-G-P-Gunapala-Malalasekara-Great-scholar-and-world-renowned-Buddhist-leader/131-153680 |website=dailymirror.lk |publisher=Wijeya Newspapers |access-date=6 February 2022 |language=English |date=7 August 2018}} He was educated at Royal College in Colombo, where he played for the college cricket team. From there he travelled to England to study law at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.{{cite news|url=https://island.lk/the-incomparable-vijaya-malalasekera/|title=The incomparable Vijaya Malalasekera|first=Rohan|last=Wijeyaratna|date=2021-12-25|work=The Island|accessdate=2022-01-26}} While studying at Cambridge, he played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club from 1966 to 1968, making 27 appearances.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/31/31176/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Vijaya Malalasekera|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2022-01-26|url-access=subscription}} He opened the batting in The University Match of 1967 alongside fellow Sri Lankan Mano Ponniah, with the pair becoming the first Asians to open the batting for Cambridge in the Varsity match. In his 27 first-class appearances, he scored 699 runs at an average of 14.26.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/31/31176/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Vijaya Malalasekera|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2022-01-26|url-access=subscription}} He made two half centuries, with a highest score of 80 on his first-class debut against Essex at Fenner's in 1966.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/31/31176/f_Batting_by_Opponent.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding Against Each Opponent by Vijaya Malalasekera|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2022-01-26|url-access=subscription}} His was the highest score in the Cambridge first innings.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/27/27987.html|title=Cambridge University v Essex, 1966|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2022-01-26|url-access=subscription}} His 1968 season was curtailed in June, due to a shoulder injury.{{cite news|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/220206/sports/vijaya-malalasekera-no-more-471612.html|title=Vijaya Malalasekera no more|date=2022-02-06|work=The Sunday Times|accessdate=2022-02-06}}

After graduating from Cambridge, he was called to the bar to practice as a barrister from the Inner Temple.{{cite web |url=http://www.bostoncap.net/boston_capital/board_of_directors.html |title=Boston Capital - Board of Directors |accessdate=2022-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911015653/http://www.bostoncap.net/boston_capital/board_of_directors.html |archive-date=11 September 2011 |url-status=dead}} Upon his return to Sri Lanka he became an advocate and began his private practice. He joined the Ceylon Tobacco Company as a senior management trainee in 1973, remaining with the company until his retirement in 2005. Following internal turmoil in the Board of Control for Cricket, Malalasekera was appointed in March 2001 to head the four-man interim cricket board by Tourism and Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/malalasekera-heads-4-member-interim-cricket-board-105643|title=Malalasekera heads 4-member interim cricket board|first=Sa'adi|last=Thawfeeq|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=2001-03-29|accessdate=2022-01-26}} Post-retirement, he held a number of chairmanships at various companies, including Carson Cumberbatch.

Malalasekera died on 5 February 2022, at the age of 76,{{Cite news|date=2022-02-05|title=Former Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Vijaya Malalasekara passed away|url=https://srilankacricket.lk/2022/02/former-sri-lanka-cricket-chairman-vijaya-malalasekara-passed-away/|access-date=2022-02-05|work=Sri Lanka Cricket|language=en-US}} following a brief illness.