Promotion of sport for schoolboys important - Bata MD Mollo

By Lal Gunesekera

CRICKET AWARDS: Many of the past recipients of the prizes at the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer Awards over the years have gone on to represent Sri Lanka in the Test cricket arena. Despite the fact that my home country, New Zealand, lost to Sri Lanka in the semi-finals of the last World Cup in the West Indies, I am indeed pleased to be able to congratulate youngsters who could well follow in the same trend in the years to come.

So said the Managing Director of Bata Shoe Company Ceylon Limited, Raphael Mollo, on Thursday night at the glittering Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer Awards ceremony at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

Mollo, who has been a keen follower of international cricket for a long period of time, whilst welcoming a Sri Lankan cricketing "great" Sidath Wettimuny, who was chief guest together with his wife, recalled when Wettimuny was called "Lord Sid" after his history making century at Lord's against England in a Test match in 1984. He also welcomed the Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL), Bandula Padmakumara, and his wife, Editor of the Sunday Observer, Dinesh Weerawansa, and Sri Lanka cricketer Chamara Silva.

This was Mollo's second consecutive year since his arrival in Sri Lanka where he was actively involved in the prestigious Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer Awards Ceremony. He congratulated the young lads who have toiled hard to win the awards this year. He also thanked ANCL "for the extended publicity and promotion" of this event through the Sunday Observer.

Mollo said that Bata's were proud to be part of this event for the past 29 years. He said: "Even though at times it has been difficult to sustain this spectacular event, we have always found that promotion and encouragement of schoolboy sport is very important for the future generation of this country. We are of the view that such activities can go a long way to help overcome the difficult situations which surround us daily.

He also thanked the panel of umpires who had worked hard and untiringly towards making the correct selections for the various awards. He also had a special word of praise for Maheel Senaratne (Factory Manager of Bata Shoe Company of Ceylon Limited) who put countless hours of his own time in organising this event and thanked the Organising Committee too.

Mollo also thanked the compere, Brian Thomas, all Principals and staff at different schools who were present.