Here’s what past winners say...

The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest opened the door for budding cricketers to further their interest in the game. The contest is a forerunner for cricketers to gain recognition at highest level. Ranjan Madugalle was the Observer first Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979 and (earlier in 1978 Madugalle won the award when the contest was sponsored by Warner-Hudnut-Limited. Madugalle needs no introduction in cricket be it is Sri Lanka or in the outside world these days. He is a past Sri Lanka captain and what’s most important is the fact he was the youngest in the international panel of match referees and was in charge of 1999 World Cup final and now is the Chief Match Referee of the ICC.

The fact that these contests cater to the very best is reflected in the results.

Arjuna Ranatunga - The Sri Lanka cricket captain who won the World Cup for the country in 1996 was the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1980 and 1982 he said It’s good to see the Sunday Observer continuing the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year for the 32nd year from 1978 to encourage the promising and up-and-coming schoolboy cricketers. I was particularly happy to see that the Northern Province will join up with the others in the competition. I am happy at the improvement of outstation cricket as the game has spread far and wide in the country.

Ranjan Madugalle: Associated Newspaper of Ceylon Limited and the Observer should be complimented for keeping the show going for all these years. Sponsors are essential. May the show continue for many years to come. He said that in the past most of the winners of the top awards from Colombo and its suburbs but now the outstation schools have come in a big way and it was a good sign for the game.

Kumar Dharmasena: Has taken to big time cricket umpiring. A member of the 1996 World Cup winning team.

I must congratulate ANCL and Sunday Observer for keeping the show going for 32 years. Sponsors are vital for the progress of sports in a country and ANCL has taken the lead and it helps the authorities to build up the youth.

Development of Youth is very important as the youth are the ones who will take the country forward. The contest has been in existence for 32 years and the competition is a forerunner in helping the schoolboy to perform well added Dharmasena.

Marvan Atapattu: The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest gave all the encouragement for me to forge ahead in the cricket world said former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu. Marvan complimented the ANCL and Observer for keeping the show going for all these years. Schoolboy cricketers should be encourage on a larger scale. This contest is there to identify the talent and the high performances. Atapattu was confident that the up and coming schoolboy cricketers follow the same example set by those who won top awards at the contest.

Thilan Samaraweera: He endorsed this long standing contest as the best for schoolboy cricketers Thilan was of the view that Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest moved to be one of the best in the country.

He also said that cricketers from lesser known school like Ginigathena MV, Poramadulla MV, Kalutara MV, Revatha MV, Kularatne MV to name a few are now playing competitive cricket due to the interest shown for the contest.

Farveez Maharoof: Won the award in 2003. He said that about 90 per cent of Sri Lanka cricket team has won awards in this contest. The game of cricket is now not confined to the popular schools. The game has spread throughout Sri Lanka. It is indeed happy to note more outstation cricketers have gained selections to Sri Lanka ‘A’ team, Development pool, under-19 squad and the national team.

He said that Observer show has been well received as the selections made by the umpires have been good throughout. The selections have the desired results as those selected for awards have gone on to represent Sri Lanka.