By Srian Obeyesekere

The 2024 U19 Schools’ Cricket Awards Ceremony yesterday at the BMICH with schoolboys and girls from the far corners of the country in attendance which was handsomely driven by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with it’s President Shammi Silva, the live wire to putting schools cricket on the right track, took on a soul searching to colorful air for the significance of such latent talent showcasing themselves in the award winning glitter that went with the throbbing entertainment a bevy of schoolgirls and boys lit up the big show.

There was Sri Lanka Cricket’s Hony Secretary Chrishantha Kapuwatte holding the floor in a brilliant oratory driving home the message to the starry eyed aspiring young hopefuls gathered by the numbers as to the need for them to embrace with both arms the far reaching sophisticated facilities at their disposal today to go up the ladder to becoming great Cricketers.

“I must emphasize the point that Sri Lanka, known to the rest of the cricketing world as a top nation second to none, must surpass all boundaries not only to our Cricketers making a name in the game. We must conquer the world by having Sri Lankans serving every sphere of the gamut in all other spheres as well from coaching to top experts from physio’s, trainers et all ” Kapuwatte, who voiced a big welcome to the distinguished gathering including the top officials of the Sports Ministry including it’s Secretary K. Mathishan, Director of Sports of the Sports Ministry Amila Abeywivkrama, and Schools Cricket Association Secretary Leelanabda Kumarasinghe among other top officials present, was quick to remind me schoolgirls immersed in the game of the part they have to play to take women’s cricket in the country in the next level, in that perspective, he said, “Today, women’s cricket has fast made an impact on the world stage with more and more young players coming out of the schools mainstream to the national grid. I must single out Vishmi Gunatatne who was a top award recipient on this stage last year who is now a top performer of the SL Women’s team. Today, she has made a name to recognition pairing with Skipper Chamari Athapaththu on opening the batting currently on duty at the Women’s World Cup in Dubai.”

The SLC Hony Secretary also pin pointed the two-fold value input for cricket in Sri Lanka by the far reaching vision of incumbent SLC President Shammi Silva which was a window to enduring school leavers remained in the game instead of fading out unlike in the past. The other high factor was that Sri Lanka would be among 41 other countries that would be competing in future Olympic Games.

He also singled out the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Dinura Kalipahana’s performances as exceptional.

Yesterday’s awards ceremony saw teams winning awards based on three categories from division one to two and ty three.

Main award recipients U19 boys category 2024 –

• Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Best All-Rounder Dinura Kalipahana’s, Mahinda College, Galle.
• Beat Batter Pulindu Perera, Dharmaraja College, Kandy
• Best Bowler Vishwa Lahiru Kumara, Sri Sumangala College, Panadura
• Best Fielder Sharujan Shanmuganathan St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena
  

U19 Schoolgirls award recipients:

• Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year Best Batter Vishmi Gunatatne
• Best Bowler Shashini Gimhani Devapathiraja College, Gampaha
• Best Fielder Manudi Dulansa Nanayakkara, Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa
• Best All-Rounder Manudi Dulansa Nanayakkara.

Among the top SLC executives who graced the event were Vice President Ravin Wickramaratne, Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva, Treasurer Sujeeva Godaliyadda, Chinthaka Edirimanne and Samantha Dodanwala.