U.19 School Cricket gets into top gear with Singer sponsorship

by Ranjan Anandappa

CRICKET: Two hundred and twenty six teams (226) will play over 1,520 matches in the schools under 19 league stage as the 2013/2014 school cricket season gets into top gear in January 2014.

Most of the schools have completed their 3rd term fixtures and they could be seen in action once again after the GCE (OL) Examination in full force.

The 1996 World Cup winning sponsors Singer Sri Lanka has come forward to further enhance the school cricket standard by sponsoring the 2013/2014 under 19 cricket tournament and the other age groups under 15,17 and as well, for a period of three years.

Commenting on the project, Kumar Samarasinghe Director Sales, Singer Sri Lanka said: "Since the company has agreed to provide funds for three years at stretch, we believe that SLSCA is free from the burden of searching funds to accomplish their long term plans for the development of school cricket."

Singer and Cricket synonymous

The Chief Executive Officer of Singer, Sri Lanka Asoka Peiris said at a media briefing held at the SLC Head Quarters, that Singer and cricket has been synonymous for a long time and together with Chairman Hemaka Amarasuriya staged the first international cricket series in 1994/1996.

"Singer and cricket has a long standing link. When Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup, Singer was the sponsors with Upali Dharmadasa and Dammika Ranatunga both involved in the cricket Board.

Today with Jayantha Dharmadasa as the President and Nishantha Ranatunga as the Secretary, it is good to be associated with them. Our aim is to improve the standard of cricket in the rural areas and we are always ready to help them and have already supported them. We are the sponsors of school rugby too." said Asoka Peiris.

Sponsors play major role - Nishantha Ranatunga

Nishantha Ranatunga, the Secretary of SLC expressing his views, said that Singer is a household name and need no introduction and is no stranger for Sri Lanka Cricket.

They were the sponsors of the 1996 World Cup winning team. "Sponsors play a major role in fostering young talent and the three-year partnership with SLSCA will help them to accomplish their plans as we know that school cricket is the cradle of Sri Lanka cricket.

If nurtured properly will no doubt help to develop the game and players from the ages 9 to 19 tremendously."

L.M.D. Dharmasena, the President of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association, said that SLSCA were without sponsors for some time and Singer's generous sponsorship package will no doubt inspire the youngsters.

"We all know that school cricket is the feeder for the future of Sri Lanka cricket and the grant is welcome at a time where finding sponsors was a scarcity.

Although cricket was a game only played by a section of people some years ago in the main cities, now it is like an epidemic that has spread all over the country, everybody trying to play the game in various forms irrespective of cast and creed like the national game of Sri Lanka.' said the President of the SLSCA.