The world record setters Sri Sumangala College, Hikkaduwa cricketers pose for a ceremonial picture with former Sri Lanka batting artiste Sidath Wettimuny, Founder and Director of the Foundation of Goodness Kushil Gunasekera, coach Lakmal Dissanayake, school principal Dinesh Rahubadda and former Nalanda College captain Nandadeva Perera
By Callistus Davy
A little known or virtually obscure school in Hikkaduwa in the southern district of Galle may have created world history by winning as many as 16 matches on the trot to become all island cricket champions in their category.
The achievement that took place a few months ago had gone unheralded until last Saturday when the godfather of Sri Sumangala College felicitated the team at a simple village ceremony.
The monumental deed had not only moved the team’s sponsor the Foundation of Goodness (FOG) and its charismatic founder Kushil Gunasekera, but also shocked one of Sri Lanka’s cricket icons the affable Sidath Wettimuny.
Sri Sumangala College not only hit the jackpot in cricketing results but also leaped into the Division Two Under-19 League category by way of a well orchestrated promotion under the guidance of coach Lakmal Dissanayake.
“Sixteen outright wins in a row, I am stunned and speechless,” said Sidath Wettimuny who scored Sri Lanka’s first Test hundred (190) at Lord’s, England in 1984.
“When I played for my school Ananda College we had 10 wins and that was the record as far as I know. I just cannot imagine how you guys did this.”
Wettimuny was touring the southern region and was at hand to witness the felicitation and talk to the budding cricketers who are also tipped the grab the limited overs title as they qualified to the final.
“I can see that you guys are naturally talented, so don’t let the opportunity go by and keep improving. Don’t worry about anything else and let your bat do the talking as my father use to tell me,” Wettimuny told them.
No sooner had the team left with their memorabilia, Wettimuny and Gunasekera nudged each other wracking their brains opening the book of statistics to be convinced the feat by Sri Sumangala was a record.
They could not find any evidence to suggest that 16 wins on the trot was not a record.
Sri Lanka’s newest schoolboy cricket champions had found themselves in the right place at the right time to have a ground with turf pitches they can call home thanks to Gunasekera and his ever expanding Foundation of Goodness that has brought him numerous elite friends from overseas.
“The future of Sri Lanka sports lies in the villages like here and it is the responsibility of the Foundation of Goodness to nurture the abundance of talent found here,” said Gunasekera who also hailed from Ananda College, played first class club cricket and was at one time the secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket which was then a respected corruption-free custodian of the sport.
Current Sri Lanka Test spin bowler Ramesh Mendis who was the fastest to take 50 wickets was also a beneficiary of the FOG’s Centre of Excellence, as did another player, spin bowler Tharindu Kaushal.
There was nothing to stand in the way of the FOG that also lived up to its godfather image and took custody and identified Pulina Tharanga who was an orphaned child who lost both his parents in the 2004 Asian tsunami.
Tharanga is said to be the only orphaned boy to have played in the Under-19 World Cup and was a member of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup squad.
The FOG could also boast of nurturing four women”s cricketers in the Sri Lanka team as well as six other girls who represented the country at the recent Youth World Cup.
They are all products of Devapathiraja College in Ratgama, Galle that is sponsored by the FOG.
Today the FOG stands out as a beacon of light reaching out to hundreds of under privileged boys and girls who could look forward to their dreams and passions that includes table tennis players as well as swimmers who train in a pool thanks to a lavish donation made by international pop star Bryan Adams who auctioned his guitar to raise funds.
Sri Sumangala College principal Dinesh Rahubadda ceremonially graced the felicitation of the team saying he was also proud to note the players were academically sound at their exams.
The winning Sri Sumangala squad comprised Chamathka Kavishan (captain), Ransara Deshan (vice captain), Ravindu Theekshana, Tharun Damsith, Lakith Nemonda, Pamod Himsara, Kaushalya Saranga, Shanuka Denuwan, Suran Hirusha, Sanjana Nethupul, Senitha Dinudika, Denith Aloka, Dineth Oshada, Sasan Nimandith, Chamindu Dananjaya and Ravindu Dilsara with coach Lakmal Dissanayake.
