One of many players given an opportunity on the 1982/83 series of New Zealand it proved to be Goonasekera's only international series. Against a high class New Zealand pace attack featuring Sir Richard Hadlee, Cairns, Chatfield and Snedden he had a torrid time although his scores did improve each innings. Goonasekera's notable achievement was snaring four catches in the first innings of the second Test at Wellington, a record effort by a Sri Lankan equaled by Hashan Tillekeratne a decade later. The left handed batsman had an improved series in the one day encounters though it was not enough to convince the selectors to persevere with him.

(Johann P Jayasekera , Sep 1999)