[1] Ratnayeke was described by Cricinfo writer Johann Jayasekera as able "to bowl with a lively pace and move the ball in favourable conditions", and also as "a competent batsman".
Ratnayake made his debut in first class cricket for Sri Lanka Under–25s against Tamil Nadu Under–25s in 1980–81.
Opening the bowling with Ashantha de Mel, Ratnayeke took three wickets, and impressed the Sri Lankan selectors enough to go on tour of England in 1981.
[7] When Sri Lanka played their first Test match in February 1982, against England, Ratnayeke did not feature in the XI, though Wisden Cricketer's Almanack said after the series that leaving Ratnayeke out "gave their captain an unbalanced attack in which only De Mel was more than medium pace".
Ratnayeke was said to "improve as the tour progressed" by Wisden,[9] though he was noted as a bowler who gave little support to Sri Lanka's main three.