About
J.R. Jayewardene
Junius Richard Jayewardene was born 17-9-1906 to the lawyer and later Chief
Justice Eugene Wilfred Jayewardene and his wife Agnes Helen. The eldest of eleven
children, he was educated at Royal College, Colombo. An active career at school
included prizes for reading and oratory, being a member of the cricket team and
playing in the Royal-Thomian big match. He also captained the rugger team in 1925,
played football and was a member of the Cadet Platoon. He was known as Dickie to
his family and close friends but the world will remember him fondly as ‘J. R.