Charith joins elite band

[September 25 2016]

by Ranjan Anandappa

Richmondite Charith Asalanka joined the elite band of school cricketers by winning the coveted Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year 2016 title for the second year in succession emulating the feats of former Sri Lankan greats Arjuna Ranatunga, 1980/82' ( Ananda) Roshan Mahanama, 1983/84'(Nalanda) Thilan Samaraweera 1994/95' ( Ananda) 'Lahiru Peiris 2004/2005 (St.Peter's) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2010'2011 (Royal) who had also won the award twice .

In a glittering award ceremony held at the Hotel Galadari Ball Room former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene crowned Charith Asalanka as the 38th Sunday Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year who has shown all the qualities of a future star.

Asalanka captained his school Richmond College, Galle and was elected as the captain of the Sri Lanka Under 19 team in the Youth World Cup and a team which toured En gland and subsequently represented the Sri Lanka 'A' team also in England . Due to the twin tours the Sunday Observer/ Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show which was scheduled to be held much earlier had to be invariably postponed. But the show presented a galaxy of potential future cricketers emerging from the outstations which shows the intension of changing the format has augured well for the future.Given below is a list of nominees for the main awards and the winners

National Awards.

Best batsman.

Nominees. Ramesh Nirmantha (St.Servatius, Matara), Himasha Liyanage ( Dharmapala, Pannipitiya), Sanjula Abeywickrema (Isipathana) D.Jayalath (Trinity), Thilina Dilshan

( St.Benedict's), Lakshina Rodrigo (St.Peter's) , Charith Asalanka ( Richmond), Pramod Maduwantha (Isipathana), Sajith Vithanage (Zahira, Colombo), Ashen Bandara

(St. Aloysius, Galle)

2nd round.

Ramesh Nirwantha, Himasha Liyanage, Sanjula Abeywickrema, Charith Asalanka, Lakshina Rodrigo

Winner. Charith Asalanka (Richmond

College, Galle)

Best bowler.

Nominees. Lasith Embuldeniya (Royal, Colombo), Thulanjana Fernando (St . Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa), Raveen Sayer (Trinity), Thaneesha Weerakoon (St.Peter's Col.4), Kavindu Bandara ( Nalanda Asitha Fernando ( St. Sebastian's, Katuneriya), Pramodh Maduwantha (Isipathana ), Duleepa Akash (De Mazenod, Kandana), Praveen Jayawickrema

(St.Sebastian's, Moratuwa)

2nd round. Lasith Embuldeniya, Thulanjana Fernando, Raveen Sayer, Thaneesha Weerakoon

Winner. Asitha Fernando

(St.Sebastian's, Katuneriya)

Best Fielder. Wanidu Hasaranga (Richond)

Best all-rounder.

Nominees.

Pramod Maduwantha (Isipathana), Sajith Vithanage (Zahira, Colombo), Sachitha Jayatileka (S.Thomas' Mount Lavinia) Jayamal Wanniarachchi (Gurukula, Kelaniya), Duleepa Akash (De Mazenod) , Sammu Ashan (Ananda, Colombo), Raveen Sayer (trinity)

2nd round. Pramodh Maduwantha, Sajith Vithanage, Sachita Jayatileka, Raveen Sayer , Sammu Ashan.

Winner Sammu Ashan (Ananda, Colombo)

Schoolboy Cricketer Of

The Year 2016.

Nominees. Raveen Sayer (Trinity), Pramodh Maduwantha (Isipathana ,Ramesh Nirwantha (St.Servatius, Matara), Lasith Embuldeniya

(Royal), Charith Asalanka

(Richmond, Galle)

Winner. Charith Asalanka

(Richmond)

Platinum; division 1

Best batsman

Nominees. Ramesh Nirwantha

(St.Servatius, Matara) , Himasha

Liyanage ( Dharmapala,

Pannipitiya), Sanjula

Abeywickrema (Isipathana),

Dayalath (Trinity)

Winner. Ramesh Nirwantha

(St.Servatius, Matara)

Runner up.

Himasha Liyanage (Dharmapaala)

Best bowler.

Nominees. Lasith Embuldeniya

( Royal), Thulanjana Fernando

(St.Joseph Vaz), Raveen Sayer

(Trinity) Thaneesha Weerakoon

(St.Peter's ) Kavindu Bandara

(Nalanda), Pramodh Maduwantha

(Isipathana)

Winner. ' Thulanjana Fernando

ISt.Joseph Vaz (Wennappuwa)

Runner up. Thaneesha Weerakoon

(St.Peter's )

Best fielder

Pathum NIssanka (Isipathana)

Runner up. Ashen Bandara

(St.Aloysius, Galle)

Best all-rounder.

Winner. Pramod Maduwantha

( Isipathana )

Runner up. Duleepa Akash

( De Mazenod, Kandana)

Division 1 award for Schoolboy

Cridketer. Pramod Maduwantha

(Isipathana )

Gold awards: Division 11

Best batsman : Risith Upamal

( Sri Dharmaloka, Kelaniya)

Runnner up: Dilshan Keerthie

(Siri Piyaratana, Padukka)

Best bowler: Lasith Udage

( St.Mary's Kegalle)

Runner up: Dilum Sudeera

(Karandeniya Central)

Best fielder: Kavindu Sahan

( Sri Devananda, Ambalangoda)

Runner up. Nilanka Rukshitha

(Devapathiraja, Ratgama)

Best all- rounder: Raveen Yasas

(Devapathiraja, Ratgama)

Runner -up. Dilum Sudeera

( Karandeniya CC)

Silver: division three awards

Best batsman: Thatsara

Weerasinghe (Nugawela Central)

Runner- up. Navod Madusanka

(Sastrananda CC,Dehiwela)

Best bowler W.A.P.D.Fernando

(St. Peter's , Negombo)

Runner up. Rajitha Nirmal

(St.Aloysius, Ratnapura)

Team Awards. (National)

Best school team. Trinity College,

Kandy.

Runner up. Thurstan College,

Colombo

Best school team Western

Province: St.Peter's Bambalapitiya

Runner up. Isipathana College

Best school team Southern

province: Richmond, Galle

Runner up- St.Servatius , Matara

Best school team Northern

Province. St. John's , Jaffna

Best school team Central

Province. Dharmaraja, Kandy

Runner up. St.Anthony's.

Katugasthota

Best team NWP :

St.Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa

Runner up : Maliyadeva,

Kurunegala

Best team Sabaragamuwa

Province: St.Mary's, Kegalle

Runner up. Kegalu MV

Best school team NCP.

Anuradhapura CC

Best school team Uva Province :

Bandarawela Central

Best behaved team.

St.Aloysius College, Galle.

Best promising team. De La

Salle, College, Mutwal