Online edition of Sunday Observer

Here's good news for sports fans, particularly cricket fans and supporters on inter-school cricket. The OBSERVER-BATA Schools Cricket competitions will get back into the old style once again from this year.

Lahiru Peiris of St. Peter’s College, the winner of the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer All-Island receives his award from Raphael Mollo, Chairman, Bata Shoe Company.

Bata (Colombo) ten-day old Managing Director Raphael Mollo gave this assurance to the audience present on Thursday at Taj Samudra Hotel at the awards ceremony of the 2005 Observer-Bata Most Popular Cricketers Contests.

Mollo from New Zealand had followed the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest for over 20 years in New Zealand as the results of this contest are flashed in their newsletter that is circularised at all Bata outlets throughout the globe. I have heard a lot about the contests in the past.

Damith Gunaratne of D.S. Senanayake College, the runner-up - Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer all-Island receives his award from Raphael Mollo, Managing Director, Bata Shoe Company. Mahil Senaratne, Factory Manager Bata is in the centre.

"There has been some unfortunate events that took place during the past two years, but, we will bounce back from this year and the years to follow and have the Observer-Bata Contests again this year like the contests held in the past. "Mr. Mollo assured to a very appreciative audience.

The Bata boss thanked the Chairman and the ANCL Board of Directors for sticking with his company even during troubled times and assured that with the continued support of ANCL, "We will be able to keep alive and the partnership can go for ever." Mollo assured.

Andy Solomons of St. Thomas College, Kotte, the winner - Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer Outstation receives his award from Abhaya Amaradasa, General Manager, ANCL.

Raphael Mollo has not played cricket, but he is a keen follower of the game and watches with interest the performances of the New Zealand team in the on-going under 19 World Cricket Tournament now being played here in Colombo.

"Cricket is very popular here and it is a sport that needs great dedication. School cricket is the nursery for big-time cricket and great cricketers have emerged from this contest in the past.

I assure one and all that this year, we will have a good contest and proper awards ceremony." Mollo assured. Mr. Abhaya Amaradasa - General Manager of ANCL, said that it was the 28th year of the OBSERVER-BATA awards ceremony and this contest had served cricket a great deal as the top stars of today have all done well at school level and had been winners of various contests in the competitions over the years.

Erandha de Silva of Tissa MMV, Kalutara, the runner-up - Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer Outstation receives his award from Abhaya Amaradasa, General Manager, ANCL at the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer awards ceremony held at Taj Samudra Hotel on Thursday night. Pictures by Kavindra Perera.

Arjuna Ranatunga who led Sri Lanka to victory in the World Cup in 1996, was a winner here twice in 1980 and then again in 1982, while Ranjan Madugalle - the present Chief Match Referee of the ICC was winner in 1979 and also in 1978 when the contest was sponsored by Warner-Hudnut, then star off-spinner in the world - Muttiah Muralitharan won the top award in 1991 and just before him in 1990, the present Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu won in 1990.

This contest has been well received by all and sundry as the contest that opened the door to cricketers in their forward march into the big league.

Cricket is the most prestigious sport in the world and contests of this nature brings out the best in the individuals concerned. For two years this contest encountered some problems and everything seems to be settled down now and we can once again forge ahead in the search for talent that will ultimately pave the way for better Sri Lanka teams in the years to come.

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer (All-Island): Lahiru Peiris (St. Peter's College), runner-up: Damith Gunaratne of D.S. Senanayake College. Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer (Outstation): Andy Solomons of St. Thomas' Kotte; runner-up: Eranda de Silva of Tissa MMV.

It was pointed out that there may be querries as to how St. Thomas' Kotte went into the Outstation Schools category, but this was done to enable schoolboys of lesser known schools to have a chance of winning awards as they may not be able to stand up to choose who come from better known schools.

These contests have been going on all these years due to some hard work by the Bata team led by Export Manager Errol Nugawela who saw the minute details that brought out a super show.

Now, with the assurance given by Bata's new Managing Director Raphael Molle this contest will comeback into its past glory.