Trinity's Weeraratne honoured recipient in Observer-Mobitel Cricket Awards

Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricket Contest 2015....

The year 1996 was a significant one for Sri Lanka cricket as they became the World Cricket Champions and also saw two new cricket stars emerging from Trinity College, Kandy and excelling during the season that year.

The two stars were none other than the former Test captain Kumar Sangakkara and Kaushalya Weeraratne.

The latter Weeraratne, went on to win the coveted Sunday Observer Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year Contest in 1999 after representing Trinity for three years.

Kaushalya Weeraratne, the hard-hitting left-hander and a right arm medium pace bowler, also took away the Best All-rounder's and Best Bowler's awards that year. He had the distinguished honour of being a Trinity 'Lion' at cricket and a coloursman at rugby.

At the 'Oval' shape ball game, Weeraratne, who is also a top athlete ,was a speedy winger and was a member of Trinity's 1999 rugby team.

He had a choice either to play full time cricket or rugby, but he opted for cricket and had fared well.

He has represented the country in 15 ODI's and 5 T20's and his only wish is to play Test cricket for Sri Lanka. If he had continued with his rugby most probably, he would have ended up by donning the Sri Lanka jersey at rugby too.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer in connection with to Schoolboy Cricketer Contest contest, Weeraratne said that there is no doubt that a show of this nature has inspired him and more talented cricketers in reaching the top.

"It is an accepted fact that a good number of recipients, let it be all Island or outstation, has represented the country at the highest level. It is a much look forward to event in the school cricket calendar, Weeraratne said.

He became the first Trinitian to win the Sunday Observer Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year contest. Another Trinitian Niroshan Dickwella won the award in 2013 and he went on to represent the country at the highest level.

(RA)