Ruwantha Fernandopulle still in the lead

The 30th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest’s most popular segment has received an unprecedented response from all quarters as cricketing heroes from schools polled a record number of votes.

After eleven weeks of stiff competition, Ruwantha Fernandopulle of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo continues to head the All-Island contest for the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy cricketer.

The Josephian star cricketer has not only maintained a commanding lead but has also polled a record number of over 47,851 votes, a feat no other cricketer has achieved in the 30-year-old history of Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, conducted by the Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka’s English newspaper with the largest circulation.

In the latest round of voting alone, Fernandopulle polled 7,236 votes to extend his lead over second-placed Naveen Kavikara of D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo.

The Sunday Observer’s new alliance with Sri Lanka’s fastest growing mobile telephone service provider - SLT Mobitel has taken the popular contest to greater horizons.

In the second place of the All-Island contest is Kavikara with 30,010 votes, followed by Ananda’s Udara Peiris - 20,168. Rashitha Dilan of Bandaranayake College, Gampaha takes a close lead over Shehan Silva of Joseph Vaz in the Outstation contest.