Lasantha Rodrigo was born in Moratuwa and attended Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa, where he captained the cricket team in 1958 and 1959, and also captained the Ceylon schools team.[1] His father, J. B. C. Rodrigo, was principal of Prince of Wales' College from 1933 to 1959.[2]
He made his highest first-class score on his debut, in the Gopalan Trophy match in 1958–59, when he scored 89.[3] Batting at number three, he top-scored with 44 for Ceylon in their one-day match against the touring Australians in April 1961.[4] He toured India with the Ceylon team in 1964-65, playing in all three matches against India, but with only moderate success.
He worked for Ceylon Cold Stores for 31 years as a mechanical engineer. Inability to take time off work to play cricket shortened his cricket career.[1] In 2014 he was formally honoured by Sri Lanka Cricket for his services to cricket in Sri Lanka, and awarded 300,000 rupees.[5] In September 2018, he was one of 49 former Sri Lankan cricketers felicitated by Sri Lanka Cricket, to honour them for their services before Sri Lanka became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).[6][7]
Rodrigo lives with his wife Sweenie in Moratuwa, opposite Prince of Wales' College. They have a daughter and a son.[1]