Mahinda Club and Richmond Cricket Club have come forward to organise an old boys’ cricket tournament and get together in Colombo as a precursor to the Big Match on 17 and 18 March.
The main reason behind this novel idea is to convey to misguided individuals that the old boys of Richmond College and Mahinda College still play the game of cricket under the theme ‘Brotherhood beyond boundaries’ to ensure a violence-free Big Match experience.
Since Richmond captain Prasad Kariyawasam and Mahinda captain Ivan Kariyawasam of the 1972 team are not in the country, arrangements have been made to felicitate Ravi Arunthavanathan and P.H.K. Ranasinghe.
There will be two T20 matches between the Over 50 and Under 50 teams at the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) Ground, Colombo 7 on 12 February from 9.30 a.m. onwards. Admission is free of charge.
A limited number of tickets have been printed for dinner at Rs. 3,000 per person. Those interested can contact Dilshan Amarasinghe at 0714527250 or Subodha Gunawardena at 0768343844.
Programme schedule
9.30 a.m – Opening ceremony with Chief Guests Richmond College Principal P.S. Pushpakumara and Mahinda College Principal Athula Wijewardena
10 a.m. – Over 50 match
1 p.m. – Under 50 match
5.30 p.m. – Closing ceremony with Chief Guests Ravi Arunthavanathan and P.H.K. Ranasinghe
6 p.m – Get together
Richmond College Over 50 squad:
C.K. Hewamanna (Captain), Thushan Jayawardena (Vice Captain), Prasad Abeyasundara, P.A. Gunawardena, Lasantha de Silva, Nishantha Mendis, Upul Yatawara, Prasanna Ramanayake, S.T.R. Jayasekara, Asoka Sirimanna, Asitha de Silva, Chinthaka Wickremasinghe, Chandima Mendis, and Hiran Jayawardena.
Richmond College Under 50 squad:
Chamila Gamage (Captain), Anil Reddegammana (Vice Captain), Samantha Lorenzuhewa, Dilshan Amarasinghe, Fawaaz Jishty, Udayakumara, Indika Udayanga, Chamith Silva, Chathura Aravinda, Tharindu Weerasinghe, M. Fizer, Bakthi Mendis, Lisula Wijenayake, Bathiya Kalansuriya, and Suboda Gunawardena.
Mahinda College Over 50 squad:
Dulip de Silva, Geethanga de Silva, Mihira Egodage, Upul Chandana, Udayanga Sirimanne, Chandika Sirimanna, Upul Gunasekara, Nalin Piyarathna, Krishantha Jayasekara, Gayal Lanka, Hasitha Rajapaksha, Kushantha De Silva, Duminda Wickramasinghe, Upul Kumara, and Anura Pandithage.
Mahinda College Under 50 squad:
Hasith Darshana, Thusitha Palliwaththe, Tharanga Mharaba, Kalpa Hewagama, Tharidu Randima, Suneth Kudahetti, Asela Wewelwala, Hirantha Wijesinghe, Damith Dilhara, Sulalith Shamendra, Sampath Kostha, Thushara Rupasighe, Prashan Weerawarna, Lasath Udugama Sooriya, and Sanjaya Withana.