February, 3, 2025
Three present First XI players and four team officials were felicitated by the Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation (DRCCF) at its annual Cricket Night and Awards Ceremony for the 2023/2024 season held on the 25th of January at the Grand Kandyan Hotel in Kandy. The event, which coincided with the 25th anniversary celebrations of DRCCF saw the presence of over 200 past cricketers of Dharmaraja College joining hands.
The annual Cricket Night and Awards Ceremony conducted by DRCCF, an event highly anticipated among the former cricketing alumni of Dharmaraja College, recognised the achievements of their three Under-19 talents, who represented Sri Lanka Youth in 2024. They were Pulindu Perera, Lakvin Abeysinghe and Sheshan Marasinghe, who have been outstanding contributors to Dharmaraja cricket, as well as the teams they represented at different levels.
Pulindu Perera, a fifth-year player who bats Left-handed and bowls right-arm off-spins, has been awarded the best batsman award in the 34th and 35th editions of the Limited Overs encounters against big match rivals Kingswood College. He also was adjudged the best batsman at the 115th Battle of the Maroons against Kingswood, and was adjudged the best bowler in the 116th edition of the two-day encounter.
Pulindu went onto represent Sri Lanka U-19s against West Indies, Pakistan, England, as well as the Youth Asia Cup and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2024. His achievements earned him the promotion to compete in the National Super League, the Lanka Premier League and a slot in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team against Pakistan Shaheens.
Lakvin Abeysinghe was a member of the Sri Lanka Under-19s in the Youth Asia Cup 2024 held in Dubai, where he scored 50 against Nepal and 69 against India. He was adjudged the best batsman in the U-19 Division I Tier ‘B’ segment, and also has gone the extent of playing four times in the Super Provincial Tournament, representing Under-17 and Under-19 teams since 2022.
Shehan Marasinghe, who has many accolades under his belt, has represented the Kandy District team in the SLC Super Provincial Youth League at Under-17 and Under-19 levels. A fast bowler who could hit the above 130 kilometres per hour range, Shehan represented Sri Lanka Under-19s against their tour of England.
The four officials felicitated by the DRCCF were Mr. Ananda Wijajasekara, Mr. Rienzie Subasinghe, Mr. Senaka Dissanayake and Mr. Haresh Ratnayake, who contributed to the growth and success of Dharmaraja cricket in different capacities.
Mr. Ananda Wijayasekara, an experienced cricket coach who imparted his services as a coach at different age groups since 1994, has helped Dharmaraja produce many cricketers at national level, including the school’s recent star, Chamara Kapugedara. Under him Dharmaraja was able to win many titles.
Mr. Rienzie Subasinghe, a well-qualified public servant, has been actively involved with Dharmaraja cricket as the Master in-Charge since he joined the Hill Capital school as an English teacher in 1987. He has worked alongside many coaches of Dharmaraja cricket including Mr. David Karunaratne, Mr. Sonny Yatawara and Mr. Senaka Dissanayake, and has guided many Rajan cricketers reach the highest level.
Celebrated cricketer from the Hill Capital, Mr. Senaka Dissanayake, has contributed his yeoman services to the recent successes of Dharmaraja cricket. Being a well recognised cricketer himself, Mr. Dissanayake has represented his alma mater, Dharmaraja College, at all age levels beginning from Under-13, and also represented Sri Lanka Under-19s under the legendary Aravinda de Silva against Australia in 1984. The first Rajan cricketer to score 200 runs for his school team at the iconic Asgiriya Ground, Mr. Dissanayake has served as served Dharmaraja First XI cricket as a coach from 1992 to 1984 while serving as Head Coach of the team from 2005 to 2017 and a second tenure from 2023 to date.
Considered as a cricketing legend among the Rajans, Mr. Haresh Ratnayake’s achievements as a former player and captain of Dharmaraja cricket speaks greater volume. Mr. Ratnayake, who captained the Dharmaraja First XI team in the 2001/02 season, has many accolades under his belt, such as an impressive batting average of 94.5.
His talent earned him the national spotlight from the category of Under-15, where he was picked to represent the Sri Lanka Development Squad. A former skipper of Dharmaraja U-15 and U-17 teams as well, Mr. Ratnayake led the Kandy District and Central Province teams at Under-17 and Under-19 levels, before earning Sri Lanka Schools Colours. He has played for different teams, home and abroad, and has been an inspiration to the young cricketers of Dharmaraja College for many years.
The Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation, who recognised these seven individuals for their outstanding contributions at different capacities, as players, coaches and officials, also pledged to continue their enduring commitment towards the development of the school’s cricket future. The event was held under the patronage of the Immediate Past Principal of the school as well as the Past Presidents of the DRCCF.
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