The Singer Schools Cricket awards Ceremony 2014 was held today at the BMICH main hall with many distinguished guests gracing the occasion.
After a successfully concluded Schools cricket season the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLCA) along with the main sponsor Singer held the awards ceremony today at the BMICH main hall. With the Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka Mr. Hemaka Amarasuriya gracing the occasion as the chief guest, other guests of honour included Mr. Mohan De Silva, vice president SLC, Mr. Nuski Mohammed, treasurer SLC, The CEO of Singer Sri Lanka Mr. Asoka Peiris and other distinguished guests added glamour to the ceremony.
Singer has been in the forefront of cricket sponsorships. They entered Cricket 20 years ago in 1994 by sponsoring a quadrangular series and 2 years after sponsored the World Champion team in 1996. Singer was also the proud sponsor of the first Sri Lankan test match in 1982. Singer joined hands with the SLSCA last year in powering the Schools cricket league the biggest schools cricket tournament in the world and continues to take Sri Lanka cricket from strength to strength from grass root level to the senior.
The president of the SLSCA, Principal of Ananda College, Colombo said “What we want is to make sure that these young boys are on the right path to win the world” in his address to the audience of School boys, parents and well wishes along with the invitees. He went on to thank Singer Sri Lanka for making sure the tournament is financially sound and for guiding them along the way in making this years’ edition a success.
Mohan De Silva, the vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket said “This should motivate these young cricketers to achieve even greater feats on the field. Also tournaments of this sort develop the game and ensure these youngsters are provided an opportunity to stage their talents”. He added “Cricketers are nurtured at schools, molded by clubs and experience ensures a cricketer ends up in national ranks”.
Another noteworthy speech was by the chief guest Mr. Hemaka Amarasuriya who drilled valuable advice to the future of Sri Lankan cricket. He stressed on the fact that these youngsters should ensure that the ‘crowds of the hay days’ should be brought back to the grounds on match days with exciting cricket on display. On an ending note he said “It’s good to have dreams but don’t let your dreams be the master, make them a reality” inspiring the audience to a momentary hush.
T20 Tournament Champion – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia
The awards presented this evening were as follows;
Provincial Awards-
Western Province – St. Peters College
Southern Province – Mahinda College, Galle
Central Province – Dharmaraja College, Kandy
Nothern Province – St. Johns College, Jaffna
Eastern Province – Uhana Central College, Ampara
Sabaragamuwa Province – Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalle
Uva Province – St. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela
North Western Province – Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa
Division III Awards
Champion – Debarawewa National College, Debarawewa
Runner up – Devapathiraja College, Rathgama
Best Allrounder – Dilshan Kanchan – Devapathiraja College, Rathgama
Best Batsman – Dilshan Kanchan – Devapathiraja College, Rathgama
Best bowler – Brendon Eabert –St. Thomas’ College, Kotte
Division II Awards
Champion – Anuradhapura Central College, Anuradhapura
Runner up – Carey College, Colombo
Best Allrounder – Charith Rajapaksha – Carey College Colombo
Best Batsman – Tharaka Dhananjaya – Carey College, Colombo
Best bowler – Yasiru Suganda – Rahula College, Matara
Best fielder – Indika Gunasekara – Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalle
Division I Awards
Champion – Richmond College, Galle
Runner up – Trinity College, Kandy
Best Allrounder – Ramesh Mendis – Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda
Best Batsman – Shanika Dulaj – Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa
Best bowler – Malith Mahela, Mahinda College, Galle
Best fielder – Ron Chandraguptha – Trinity College, Kandy
T20 Tournament
Champion – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia
Runner up – St. Josephs College, Colombo
Limited over Tournament
Champion – Thurston College, Colombo
Runner up – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia
The best Up and coming Team – Saranath College, Kuliyapitiya
It was finally time to name the Singer School Boy cricketer of the year and there was an expectant silence in the crowd as the nominees were read. Cheers were heard from the nominee school mates and it was pure excitement as the main hall was deafened with applause after the drum roll followed by “The Singer School boy cricketer of the year for 2014, Shanuka Dulaj of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa” was announced. Dulaj entered the stage with bursting pride and happiness and he moved around shaking hands with the presentation committee and posing for valuable pictures that would soon to spread across newspaper and media across the Island.
School Boy cricketer of the year, Shanuka Dulaj of Prince of Wales’ College Moratuwa
ThePapare.com was able to catch a word with the School Boy cricketer of the year, Shanuka Dulaj and he said “I am very happy about his achievement, it’s a dream come true”. When asked if he had any plans of receiving such an award Dulaj said “yes, I did have plans and I worked tirelessly to achieve this award”.
It was an evening of excitement as the future of Sri Lankan cricket unfolded. A they palmed their medals and tokens of accomplishment, the path to success seemed bright for these young aspiring Cricketers and for the nation.
