Prasanna Walalawala - an allround sportsman

by Upananda JAYASUNDERA- Kandy Sports Spl Cor.

A VERSATILE SPORTSMAN: Prasanna Walalawala, a versatile sportsman, a product of Dharmaraja College, Kandy was awarded Colours for Cricket, Soccer, Hockey, Athletics and Cadeting.

He represented the College Cricket teams from Under 12 to Under 19 and as Under 17 Captain, his team reached the semi-finals at a division II tournament in the year 1990. Prasanna represented First XI team from 1980 to 1983 and in the final year, scored two centuries against Maliyadewa 112 and 100 not out against Kingswood. He put on a record partnership of 275 for the 3rd wicket with Senaka Dissanayake who scored 200 at the Kingswood / Dharmaraja 'Big Match' in 1983. Prasanna faced 90 deliveries in 100 minutes and reached 100 not out. He represented Saracens Sports Club and the Kandy Cricket Club at P. Sara Tournaments from 1983 to 1985. Represented Old Rajans Cricket Club at Division III tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket for many years. Prasanna led the Old Rajans Cricket Club in 2008 at which Old Rajans CC won the Plate Trophy in the Col. Henry Olcott Memorial Cricket tournament. As an Athlete, he won the 800 metres in Junior Nationals in 1982 and was selected to the Sri Lanka Junior National Pool in 1983. He was the Athletic Captain of the College in 1983 and won the 400 and 800-metre events in 1982 and 1983 in the Under 19 age group.

He also represented the College at Soccer from Junior to Senior level.

Member of the All-Island runners-up team in the Under 19 age group at the tournament conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka in 1982.

In Athletics, a member of the 2nd Batallion Regimental team and was placed 1st at the Inter-Regimental Meet in 1982 and was placed 3rd at the Herman Loos Trophy Meet held at Diyatalawa.

Presently he is functioning as the Secretary of the Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation since 2010 and doing excellent work in promoting Cricket at his Alma Mater.