Rajandram Rajamahendran aka Killi Maharaja (1943-2021)Rajandram or Rajendran Rajamahendran aka Killi Maharaja, the Chairman of the Capital Maharaja Group, passed away yesterday (25). Rajamahendran, affectionately known as Killi, passed away while he was receiving treatment for Covid-19 at a private hospital in Colombo. One of the biggest benefactors of national cricket during the country’s formative years in Test cricket, Rajamahendran provided employment to a number of leading Sri Lanka cricketers like Duleep Mendis, Roy Dias, and Arjuna Ranatunga, among many others, during the late 1970s and early 80s. He was also credited with instilling discipline into national cricketers and on many occasions went out of the way to encourage and financially support leading Lanka cricketers at a time the game was not professionalised. Seated here third from right is Rajandram ‘Killi’ Rajamahendran with the Sri Lanka cricket team in England during their famous 1984 tour there for a one-off Test at Lord’s, now renowned for Sidath Wettimuny’s brilliant 190 and the team’s fighting display under Duleep Mendis.

Source: The Nation July 26, 2021 09:56 UTC