30th Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year:

A ‘Red Letter’ day for young cricketers

It will be a red letter day in the annals of Sri Lanka’s cricket history as the most prestigious awards ceremony for schoolboy cricketers who gets national recognition.

The 30th Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Mega Show, sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, will be held at BMICH, Colombo commencing from 5.15 p.m. today.

Gracing the big event will be former Sri Lanka captain and present ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, who incidentally won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in its inaugural year in 1979.

It will be a memorable occasion for all schoolboy cricketers, fans and their supporters as the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year becomes a national event and will be hosted by the Sunday Observer, the flagship of English newspapers with the largest circulation in association with Sri Lanka Cricket, Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association and Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association.

Unlike in the previous years, the winners were not announced prior to the event, except in the Observer-Mobitel Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer segment. A special panel of umpires, headed by former Sri Lanka Test captain Hashan Tillakaratne, the new President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association met recently to shortlist four players for each category.

There will be 34 glittering trophies that would be presented for the most outstanding cricketers and teams of the recently concluded 2007/08 inter-school season. Who will be crowned the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year for 2008?

Well, there are five Milan Fernando (S. Thomas’ College), Umesh Karunaratne (Thurstan College), Madawa Warnapura (Nalanda), Dimuth Karunaratne (St. Joseph’s College) and Geeth Kumara (Thurstan College) are short listed for the coveted title. Definitely one of them would carry away the top honours tonight.

Going one step from its traditional awards, the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest will introduce lavish cash incentives for the outstanding cricketers and teams.

Adding colour to an action packed evening will be the famous duo of Bhathiya and Santhush, who will also sing the Sri Lanka Cricket song. There will be many eye catching entertainment segments to give spectators a memorable evening.

Amongst the distinguish special guests invited for the mega Show are Minister of Media and Information, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation, Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Media, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, Acting Minister of Education, Nirmala Kotelawala, Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket Arjuna Ranatunga, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Telecom and SLT Mobitel, Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, Chairman of the ANCL, Bandula Padmakumara, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Chief Executive Officer Suren J. Amarasekera, Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association Hemantha Prematillake and President of the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association Hashan Tillakaratne.

Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene, Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya and champion quick bowler Lasith Malinga too will grace the Mega Event.