Thurstanites should take cue from President Rajapaksa and forge ahead - Minister Lokuge

CRICKET: A new pavilion and scoreboard which were long-felt needs for the newly constructed cricket ground of Thurstan College, bordering Reid Avenue and Baudhaloka Mawatha (Old Buller's Road) were declared open by Chief Guest, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge with other distinguished old boys of the school in attendance on Friday morning.

Opening of pavilion and new scoreboard at Thurstan College....Governor of Northern Province Dickson Sarathchandra Dela a distinguished old boy, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge, IGP Jayantha Wickremaratne and Deshabandu Kumar Dewapura - Chairman Tri Star Apparels - an old boy officiating at the opening of the new scoreboard at Thurstan grounds at Bauddhaloka Mawatha on Friday morning. Picture by Herbert Perera.

Minister Lokuge addressing schoolboys, masters and guests after the opening ceremony urged them to aspire for greater deeds in the field of sports by using modern facilities available.

"Thurstan is a school that has produced several distinguished old boys in many fields and in their ranks they have produced no less a person than President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who, despite his pressing commitments, has rendered immeasurable service to his alma-mater.

Therefore, I urge Thurstainites, young and old, to take the one from him and make an everlasting contribution in their chosen fields to the society and country in the future," Minister Lokuge added.

The minister also thanked leading businessmen Kumar Devapura and Lal Wijeratne for personally funding the construction of the new pavilion and the scoreboard.

The pavilion cost over rupees nine million and the scoreboard one million rupees.

Another old boys of the school - Jayantha Wickremaratne, the current IGP, speaking on the occasion, said that he was pleased that two old boys of the calibre of Devapura and Wijeratne had lavishly contributed their personal wealth for the construction of the new pavilion and the scoreboard which he termed as a `boon' for budding cricketers in the city and the outstations.

Principal of Thurstan College - Wimal Guneratne making the welcome address, thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for allocating a part of the land which previously belonged to the National Film Corporation (NFC) to build a new rugby ground and assured that his 'charges' will derive the maximum from the facilities available to put Thurstan on the local school cricket map.

Two other old boys of Thurstan College - Northern Province Governor Dickson Dela and ex-IGP Chandra Fernando also graced the occasion.

After the opening ceremony, a T20 cricket tournament contested by four teams was played for the Kumar Devapura Challenge Trophy.

The main feature of the tournament was a combined schools team from the North-East playing along with `Wesley, Trinity and the hosts Thurstan.

J.K.