28/07/2026
JULIUS
I first heard of "Julius" at the Royal - Thomian Cricket Match in 2021.
Julius had been a derelict with long untidy matted hair, shabby clothes and a glass of alcohol always in hand. But he never missed the Royal-Thomian big match until the day he died. Apparently, during the big match, he was seen staggering around the Oval grounds carrying the College flag and singing the College song much to the delight of the young and old boys of STC. He was also a familiar sight at the Mustangs tent, where he fished for any cash handouts - for his booze!
But what nobody knew was that this vagabond was a genius scholar of S’ Thomas College and the son of one of the first Ceylonese doctors in the island. The true story of his persistent craving for h***h which eventually landed him on the streets, a virtual beggar, was lamentable.
Julius was a very prominent bar-fly and his conversation at pubs, which was always educated and cultured (until he became incoherently drunk) amply paid for the drinks he scrounged!
Back in the day, Julius and his contemporary at college SWRD Bandaranaike, had been a common sight at the big match; the immaculately dressed Premier and the shabby vagrant, both seated together, swapping yarns!
EPISODE 1👇
One day Julius had been binge drinking with his buddies, who were recklessly generous that day, as it was payday. There was much singing and shouting at the bar, and Julius joined with gay abandon. At closing time his friends made their way homeward while Julius insisted on staying back.
Having no other alternative, the bartenders tried to boot him out; but what they did not know until it was too late was that they were dealing with a former ‘Stubbs Shield Boxer’.
Soon the Police were summoned and Julius was locked up.
Next morning, still drunk, he was produced in courts.
Just as he was unceremoniously pushed into a Court Cell, Julius casually glanced at the bench and his face became wreathed with a smile of pure pleasure.
" Hey Wije, You old coot" he called out gaily.
The Magistrate looked up startled.
“Good Heavens, JULIUS!”
[The Magistrate was N.A. de S Wijesekera, Julius's classmates at STC]
EPIDOSE 2 👇
Once Julius had gone to the Kalutara Courts to get a loan from a young lawyer pal. As usual he was quite drunk, and when a Constable on duty refused to allow him in Julius became abusive. A noisy altercation followed, which disturbed the court proceedings. Julius, who was dressed in a filthy torn singlet, an equally filthy sarong, a four day growth of beard and unkempt hair, was hauled up before the Judge.
The furious judge berated him in Sinhalese and asked him why he should not be sent to Jail for "Contempt of Court".
" Your Honour" said Julius in English " The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed" ....and in a mellifluous tone without a single error, he recited ' Portia's Courtroom speech' from Shakespeare’s "The Merchant of Venice".
The entire court listened spellbound and the judge gazed in amazement at the disrespectable looking tatterdemalion reciting Shakespeare.
When Julius finished his peroration, the Judge asked hoarsely, " My God! Man, Who ARE you?"
Julius's lawyer friend then rose to his feet and gave the judge a brief outline of the man’s background; after which the Judge turned to Julius. His eyes heavy with sorrow and compassion he told Julius " You may leave".
As Julius turned out of the court house gate, a peon came panting up and said “නඩුකාර හාමුදුරුවෝ දෙන්න කිව්වා " (His Honour asked me to give this to you).
It was a Fifty rupee note!
[Representative Image]
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