Sri Lanka: Observer-BATA cricket awards show (29 November 1998)

29 November 1998

Sri Lanka: Observer-BATA cricket awards show

By A C de Silva and Leslie Fernando

They were all there - the schoolboys who had won awards in the 21st Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Awards Ceremony at the BMICH Saturday before last. The 100 per cent attendance by individuals and teams, whether from Colombo, Galle, Kandy or Wariyapola gave an indication that the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year competition and awards ceremony was something well worth waiting for and watching.

Though some may not like to admit the truth, this show has come to stay as the most eagerly awaited schoolboys sports show this country has come to know.

It must surely have been a new experience for Bata's new Managing Director Mr. Rolf Senoner and his wife Christina, both of whom were introduced to the audience by compere Laddie Hettiaratchy as lovers of golf, to spend nearly 3 1/2 hours that evening in watching the show.

Mr. Rolf Senoner reminded the large gathering that the Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year competition held over the years had the desired effect on the cricket scene here, as 10 members of Sri Lanka's World Cup winning squad in 1996 had won awards at this show.

He urged the young schoolboys to emulate the seniors and when they play for the Sri Lanka team.

Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited Mr. Aloy Ratnayake said that the game of cricket teaches many good things and that will be beneficial to the players in later life.

Pradeep Hewage of St. Benedict's College was picked as Observer-Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, while Malinga Bandara of Kalutara Maha Vidyalaya who represented Sri Lanka national team while still at school was picked as the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. The Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year was Roshan de Silva of St. Joseph's while the Most Popular Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year was Chanaka Wijesinghe of St. Sylvester's College, Kandy.

The award for the Best Up and Coming Team went to a school in the interior - Sri Sumangala Madya Maha Vidyalaya Wariyapola - a school which lacks the basic facilities for cricket, but yet keeps the game alive in the area with the dedication of the school authorities and the keenness shown by the boys.

The popular showbiz band X-Periment provided lively music to entertain the large audience.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)