Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy cricketer of the year:

Mahinda Principal Werahera thrilled school recognised as best team Southern Province

by Leslie FERNANDO

OBSERVER-MOBITEL SHOW: Mahinda College, Galle cricketers are thrilled that their team has performed creditably during the last cricket season. For their untiring and hard work they were rewarded as the panel of cricket umpires who acted as judges selected Mahinda as the best team in the Southern Province.

It was not a fancy selection, performances speak - volumes about the changes that took places.

In addition to winning the Best Team award one of their key players D. M. Rajakaruna was picked as the Best Fielder in the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in All-Island Segment.

According to K. M. D. Prasad, Master-in-Charge and Harsha Munasinghe, coach the team had fared prominently, being unbeaten last season. The team played 16 matches won 6 matches and drew the other games. Two of their players Romesh Buddhika 2008 captain and D. M. Rajakaruna 2009 captain is in the under-19 team in preparation for the next year’s Youth World Cup to be played in New Zealand. Romesh and Rajakaruna are presently playing in the under-23 Premier League cricket tournament. Romesh is playing for Ragama CC and Rajakaruna for Tamil Union.

Host of other players are playing for Galle CC and United Southern team in the under-23 tournament.

The present set of young cricketers are following the footsteps of former top players W. Bennet, Amendra brothers, Ambawatta brothers, Ajith de Silva, Marvan Atapattu, De Silva brothers ‘DH’, ‘DP’, ‘DS’ and ‘DG’ to name a few. R. M. Werahera, Principal of Mahinda College together with Munasinghe and Prasad complimented ANCL and Observer for keeping the contest going for all these years. They also complemented sponsors Mobitel. The school cricketers who perform well during the season are rewarded. This contest is sure to identify the talent and the high performances. The three officials of the school said that the sponsors also play a vital role and the young cricketers should be grateful to them for offering rich rewards yearly. The competition like the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year and Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contests will encourage the young cricketers to work hard for the greater glory of the school and country, said the three officials.

It was pleasing to note that Mahinda College, Galle Principal R. M. Werahera has sent a letter of appreciation to the Sunday Observer authorities expressing his thanks for all the trouble taken in organising the show and also the Mahinda Principal Werahera thanked sponsors Mobitel for the lavish awards.