Sri Lanka’s iconic rugby legend Peter Chandrishan Manilal Perera has passed away in his home town Negombo. 

Perera, a star rugby player and athlete who captained Sri Lanka’s rugby team, had faced a lengthy battle with a debilitating disease. 

Perera burst on the scene in the 1980s when he returned to Sri Lanka from the UK where he had had his entire childhood and education. 

His prowess on the field was noted by many and he went on to captain the rugby team, as well as play cricket and athletics. 

He later became a prolific national coach and sports commentator, known for putting teams through hard paces and getting results.