First Sunday Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of The Year Show

Galle went gay in 1978 with Madugalle taking spotlight :

From the Galle Esplanade to the BMICH, and to five star hotel status, whatever the location it may be, the Sunday Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest has gone from strength to strength in recognizing young schoolboy cricket talent which has resulted in surfacing the future players. Yet, another scenario will be unfolded on July 28 (Tuesday)at the Galadari Hotel, Main Ballroom, when a bunch of schoolboycricketers will be duly recognized for their efforts on the cricket field during the year 2014/2015.

The merit awards of the contest will be known on the day of the show. While the Most Popular category have already been decided by the readers by votes, Peterite Lakshina Rodrigo was voted as the Most popular Schoolboy Cricketer in the platinum category for schools in division 1, Randev Pathirana of Royal College Colombo won the gold for division 11 and Shanaka Sampath of Siri Piyaratana received the highest number of votes in the silver for schools playing in division 111.

Ranjan Madugalle - the star cricketer in 1979

The contest is getting bigger and broader yearly as it has explored the talent in the rural areas which has given the opportunity for those lads to be on par, or even better than the players representing Colombo schools judging by the number of players emerging from the rural schools who have stamped their class as top players. Mentioning the names of all the players who have come from outside the metropolis and had made their contribution to the national team could be a tedious exercise, but the names of Sanath Jayasuriya and Tharanga Paranavithana, Tharindu Kaushal are synonymous in big time cricket these days.

1978 show in Galle

The 1978 Sunday Observer Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year Contest was a significant one. The contest was held at the Galle Esplanade for the first time in view of promoting the game in the outstation.

It was quite appropriate in having the show in Galle as the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year was Upul Sumathipala from Mahinda College, Galle. Ranjan Madugalle of Royal College, Colombo who won the 1978 contest was also judged as the winner in the following year (1979) as well.

In both years St. Sebastian's, Moratuwa's Roger Wijesuriya was the runner-up. Both had a prolific record representing their respective schools which resulted them to find a place in the Sri Lanka World Cup team in 1979 in England.

Madugalle who led an unbeaten Royal team, in addition to winning the main award (Schoolboy Cricketer), was also judged as the BestCaptain, Best Batsman and the Best Fielder runner-up during a highly successful season. As at present, a panel of distinguished umpires comprising D.C. Camillus Perera(Chairman), Vernon Tissera, Gilbert Perera, Allan Felsinger and K.T.Ponnabalam picked the winners at the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) pavilion.

The contestants for the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 1978 were: Round one: Prasanna Amarasinghe (Ananda), Ranjan Madugalle(Royal), Shammy Rajendra (Wesley), Roger Wijesuriya (St.Sebastian's)and Selvaraj Dinesh (Trinity).

Winner: Ranjan Madugalle, runner-up. Roger Wijesuriya.

Best Batsman Round one: Prasanna Amarasinghe (Ananda), Rohan Buultjens (St.Peter's), Ranjan Madugalle (Royal), K. Sabaratnam (St. Benedict's),Dilanjan Jayasekera (Wesley), Roger Wijesuriya(St. Sebastian's),Wirantha Fernando (Prince of Wales), Upul Sumathipala (Mahinda),Shammy Rajendra (Wesley), Russel de La Motte (St. Anthony's,Katugasthota), Round two: Prasanna Amarasinghe, Rohan Buultjens , RanjanMadugalle, D.Jayasekera and Roger Wijesuriya.

Winner: Ranjan Madugalle. runner-up: Prasanna Amarasinghe.

BestBowler Round One: Prasanna Amarasinghe (Ananda), Susantha Karunaratne (Nalanda), Lakshman Aloysius (St. Joseph's), Vinothan John (St.Peter's), A. de Alwis (Royal), Gihan Perera (St. Benedict's),Ashantha de Mel (Isipathana), Roger Wijesuriya (St. Sebastian's),Selvaraj Dinesh (Trinity), Suhada Fernando (Thurstan). Round two: Karunaratne, Perera, De Mel, Wijesuriya, Dinesh.

Winner: Asantha de Mel. runner-up: Gihan Perera

Best fielder

Round One: Prasanna Amarasinghe (Ananda). Hemantha Devapriya(Nalanda), Lakshman Aloysius (St. Joseph's), Ranjan Madugalle (Royal), Shammy Rajendra (Wesley), Asantha de Mel (Isipathana), RogerWijesuriya (St. Sebastian's), Wirantha Fernando (Prince of Wales),Andre Tissera (Trinity), Russel de La Motte (St. Anthony's,Katugasthota). Round two: Devapriya, Madugalle, De Mel, Fernando and Tissera.

Winner: Hemantha Devapriya. runner-up. Ranjan Madugalle

Best All-Rounder

Round one: Prasanna Amarasinghe (Ananda), Asantha de Mel (Isipathana), Roger Wijesuriya (St. Sebastian's), Andre Tissera (Trinity), Selvaraj Dinesh (Trinity). Round two: Amarasinghe, Wijesuriya, Dinesh.

Winner: Roger Wijesuriya. runner-up. Prasanna Amarasinghe.

Best Captain

Round one: Ranjan Madugalle (Royal), Andre Tissera (Trinity),Susantha Karunaratne (Nalanda), Gihan Karunaratne (Ananda), Shammy Rajendra (Wesley), Winner:

Ranjan Madugalle. runner-up. Andre Tissera.