News

2022
‘Observer SLT-Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year’ awards today
Daily News: 15.12.2022

The 44th ‘Observer SLT-Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year’ event will be held at the BMICH at 5.15 p.m. today. The chief guest will be legendary cricketer Aravinda de Silva.The guests of honour will be Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena and Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. Today’s awards ceremony will have entertainment items by leading vocalists Dinesh Gamage, Jacqualine Hettiarachchi and Roy Jackson. There will be many dance acts by the Chandana Wickremasinghe Dance Troupe in the 150-minute show handled by Funtime of Imran Saibo.

2022
Ananda dominates cricketer awards after Royal set the course
Sunday Observer: 27.11.2022
Arjuna Ranatunga’s emotional parents – the late Reggie and Nandani Ranatunga were on stage to witness their son receiving the glittering Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year trophy in 1980 from then Minister of Education and Youth Affairs Ranil Wickremasinghe

It is less than three weeks to go for the 44th Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year grand finale. The stage has been set for the Mega Show grand finale which will be held at the BMICH in Colombo on December 15. Ananda College, Colombo – a household name in Sri Lanka school cricket, has dominated the Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year series for the past 44 years. Out of 43 previous Observer SLT Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketers of the Year titles, nine have been won by Ananda, including two doubles by Anandians Arjuna Ranatunga and Thilan Samaraweera.

2022
Stage set for December 15 awards show
Sunday Observer: 20.11.2022
The Observer SLT Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2014 Sadeera Samarawickrama of St. Joseph’s after receiving to glittering trophy from the chief guest Kumara Dharmasena (who won the same mega award in 1989) and with then ANCL Chairman, late Bandula Padmakumara

The much looked forward to 44th edition of the Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year mega show will be held at the BMICH on December 15. Nearly 800 schoolchildren from all parts of the country, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces, will gather at the country’s biggest conference hall to see the nation’s next generation cricketers being honoured. The cream of the most outstaying schoolboy and schoolgirl cricketers in the recently concluded 2021/2022 season will be honoured for their hard work during a strenuous season.

2022
Rare honour for ex-winners Madugalle and Dharmasena
Sunday Observer: 13.11.2022
Umesh Karunaratne - first cricketer from Thurstan College to win the Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketer of the Year in 2008

Two former Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year – Ranjan Madugalle and Kumar Dharmasena have been picked by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as match officials for today’s ICC T20 World Cup final between England and Pakistan in Melbourne. ICC Chief Match Referee Madugalle, who stepped out of school as the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in the inaugural year 1979, will function as the ICC Match Referee in the T20 World Cup final to be played at the MCG. Dharmasena, the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1989, has been picked by the ICC as one of the two on-field umpires for the 12-nation final. This is the record sixth time he is officiating in a World Cup final.

2022
Who will be the best from the best
Sunday Observer: 06.11.2022
Flashback 2007: Malith Gunathilaka - the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year All-island 2007 (left) receives the award from chief guest former Sri Lanka opening batsman Sidath Wettimuny (centre) while on right is Managing Director of Bata Shoe Company Raphael Mollo. Anandian Gunathilaka also won the Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer All Island and Best All-rounder All-Island awards

The cream of Sri Lanka’s school cricketers who have been outstanding in the recently concluded 2021-2022 have now been shortlisted to share the top awards at the Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year grand finale to be held mid next month. These names were picked at the special selection committee meeting held at the Galadari Hotel last Wednesday. Top ranking officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) and the national umpires association took part in the meeting. Pawan Pathiraja of Trinity College, Kandy, Dunith Wellalage of St. Joseph’s College and Shevon Daniel, also from St. Joseph’s have been shortlisted for the Observer SLT Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2022.

2022
Dream day around the corner for budding cricketers
Sunday Observer: 30.10.2022
Gihan Rupasinghe became the fourth Nalandian to become the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year when he won the richest prize in school cricket in 2006

Sri Lanka’s undisputed school cricket awards ceremony – the Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year will hold its 44th selection committee meeting in Colombo on Wednesday (November 2). All arrangements have been finalised to conduct the grand selection committee meeting to be held at the Galadari Hotel on Wednesday. The 16-member selection committee, comprising top officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), Sri Lanka Umpires and Scorers Association and its Central and Southern Province Associations will meet to select the 54 award winners, including the 44th Observer SLT Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of Year and the Schoolgirl Cricketer of Year.

2022
Four past schoolboy cricketers in Lankan T20 World Cup squad
Daily News: 27.10.2022
Past Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year stars in Australia in the Lankan side are Bhanuka Rajapaksa (winner in 2010 and 2011 as well), Kusal Mendis (2013 winner) and Charith Asalanka (winner of 2015 and 2016).
The number of the past Observer Schoolboy Cricketers main award winners in the current Sri Lanka team touring Australia for the T20 World Cup has gone up to four with their replacement call for injured players. With the recalling of 2012 Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Niroshan Dickwella, the past Mega Event stars in Australia will now be four with Bhanuka Rajapaksa (winner in 2010 and 2011 as well), Kusal Mendis (2013 winner) and Charith Asalanka (winner of 2015 and 2016).
2022
All eyes on Kusal Mendis at T20 World Cup
Sunday Observer: 23.10.2022
When Sri Lanka opening batsman Kusal Mendis signalled entry to the big league as the Observer SLT Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 2013

Sri Lanka’s top order batsman Kusal Mendis, the Observer SLT Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 2013, has shown early form scoring two blistering half centuries in the qualifying round matches of the ICC World Cup T20 tournament now being played in Australia. Having lost the opening qualifying round match to Namibia by 55 runs, Sri Lanka had to win their other two qualifying round matches against the UAE and the Netherlands if they were to advance to the Super 12 final round. Sri Lanka then beat UAE by 79 runs. Batting first, Sri Lanka a modest 152 for 8 in 20 overs but that too was handsome enough as UAE was bowled out for 73 runs in 17.1 overs.

2022
Ex-winner Jayasuriya warns strategy must change or else...
Sunday Observer: 16.10.2022
Flashback 1988: Before conquering the Mount Everest of international cricket, young Sanath Jayasuriya received the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Outstation award in 1988. Here he receives the trophy from Malini Bodinagoda, wife of then ANCL Chairman Ranapala Bodinagoda while compere Laddie Hettiarachchi looks on

The much looked forward to 44th Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year 2022 will be held in mid-December. Negotiations are going on with the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) and umpires associations with the final selection committee meeting to be held next month. Once the final section is done, the grand awards presentation will take place at the 44th Observer SLT Mobitel School Cricketers of the Year 2022 in December.

2022
Five ex-Schoolboy Cricketers of the Year in action at T20 World Cup
Sunday Observer: 09.10.2022
ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle (left) and ICC Elite Panel Umpire Kumara Dharmasena are playing roles as ICC officials at the T20 World Cup

Five former Observer SLT Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketers of the Year will be seen in action during the forthcoming T20 World Cup tournament which starts in Australia next week. Out of the five Sri Lankans in action, three will be playing for the national T20 team while the other two will be on duty as ICC officials. Bhanuka Rajapakse (2010 and 2011 winner), Kusal Mendis (2013 winner) and Charith Asalanka (2016 and 2016 winner) will be the Sri Lanka T20 players in action while the other two award-winning ICC officials will be the chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle (1979 winner) and ICC Elite Panel umpire Kumara Dharmasena (1989 winner).

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