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| Sunday, 20 June 2004 |
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Marvan's advice to Anandians - play hard to achieve results by Leslie Fernando Marvan Atapattu, an Old Anandian and Sri Lanka Test and One-Day captain who was picked the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of 1990 and four other former Ananda College cricketers - Thilan Samaraweera, Avishka Gunawardena, Dinuk Hettiarachchi and Thilina Kandambi were felicitated at a simple ceremony held at the school premises on Tuesday morning. In the 118-year long history Ananda has produced great cricketers and the school should be proud about it, said B. A. Abeyratne, Principal Ananda College who made the opening address. Marvan Atapattu is the second Anandian to captain the Sri Lanka Cricket team with Arjuna Ranatunga being the first and he led the team to World Cup glory in 1996. Abeyratne said that Marvan joined Ananda in 1982, coming from Mahinda College, Galle and with dedication and devotion made the grade. He played a major role in Ananda cricket, captaining the under-12, under-14, under-16 and the under-19 teams. He turned out to be a good captain and fine leader and the present Ananda cricketers should follow his example. Marvan started off on a low key, being dismissed thrice without scoring in Test matches played in India. But he showed great determination to stay in the game his perseverance paid off, said Abeyratne. "I join my staff and the pupils to wish Marvan all success for the future in order to put Ananda and the country on top in the field of cricket." Arjuna Ranatunga a former Sri Lanka captain and Deputy Minister of Industrial Development, Investment and Tourism said that there is no Sri Lanka Cricket team without an Anandian. Marvan, as a youngster, showed lot of promise and talent and climbed to the top with superior qualities. "I am certain Marvan will receive all support and encouragement to lead Sri Lanka cricket team to victory in his capacity as the captain. Marvan Atapattu paid a glowing tribute to the Principals, Masters'-in-charge, the two coaches P. W. Perera and Anuruddha Polonowita, but did not forget Arjuna Ranatunga who has rendered great support to achieve success during his school cricketing career. "I feel very proud as my old school has organised this felicitation ceremony. I feel greatly honoured. I still remember when I was introduced to Col. V. S. Kudaligama, Principal Ananda College by the Present Deputy Principal Kulasiri de Zoysa in 1982. Kulasiri de Zoysa was the master-in-charge of cricket and he straightaway requested me to undergo training under coach P. W. Perera. From then onwards I really concentrated on cricket and was able to perform well," Atapattu said. Atapattu told the young Anandians to play the game of cricket hard to achieve results and try to emulate the feats of Ananda cricketers who have represented Sri Lanka. B. A. Abeyratne, Principal, Ananda College presented a memento to Marvan as a token of appreciation for his wonderful deeds in the game of cricket. |
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