Sri Lanka lost another boxing icon in Melbourne, Australia with the passing of Douglas Pereira, who succumbed to a heart attack aged 74.
Douglas Pereira ruled the boxing ring with authority during the late 1960’s and early 70’s winning at most prestigious meets in Sri Lanka such as the Stubbs Shield for St. Mary’s College, Dehiwala where they were a dominant force winning a triple crown in 1967, 68 and 69.
He was a fleet footed fighter with lightening speed with his hands.
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force later and continued his skillful dominance winning his weight class at the Layton Cup, Nationals and other national events before being selected to the Sri Lanka team to the Asian Boxing Championships in Thailand in 1973.
He was part of a three- member Sri Lanka contingent which included fellow Marian Chavo de Kauwe, the latter, who claimed a Silver medal after losing on a split decision in the Gold medal final.
Douggie as he was fondly known to all, was a cheerful larrikin and a lovable soul. Despite being involved in a sport that could sometimes be brutal, he didn’t have a bad bone in his body and was always a pleasure to be around.
Boxing aside, he captained St. Mary’s at rugby at a time when the little school in Dehiwala was at the forefront of many sports.
During his time as a member of St. Mary’s Stubbs Shield team that won the triple crown in the late 1960s, he was blessed to be in an era, where the boys from Dehiwala dominated the ring for around a decade or more.
The team that dominated the Stubbs Shield during that time comprised some of the best pugilists in schools at the time with revered names like Bernard de Zilwa, Hans VanCyulenberg, Godfrey Van Heer, Chavo de Kauwe, Douglas Pereira, Nigel Jansen, Milroy Byrde, ML Peris, Vasantha Perera, Andre Vanderwert and a few others that many on that era would recall.
That tradition continued with more success afterwards as the later generation kept the standard going after Douggie’s team exploits.
Since migrating to Australia, Douglas Pereira chose to live a life away from the limelight unlike his days in Sri Lanka where he was well known and respected as a leading sportsman.
Douggie was ill for a long period before he left us.
The Marian family in Australia and around the world, including his school in Sri Lanka, mourn his passing.
Trevine Rodrigo in Melbourne.