Comments

Ranjan Madugalle
ICC Chief Match Referee & Former Sri Lanka captain

Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and the Observer should be complemented for keeping the show going for all these years. Sponsors are essential to keep the show going. May the show continue for many years to come.

In the past, most of the winners of the top awards came from Colombo and its suburbs, but now, the outstation schools have come in a big way and it is a positive sign for the game.

Arjuna Ranatunga
World Cup winning Captain

It is the dream of any schoolboy cricketer to win the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award. It's great for the Sunday Observer in continuing the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest for the 31st year from 1979 to encourage the budding schoolboy cricketers. I was particularly happy to see that the Northern Province will join up with the others in the competitions at the contest.

I am happy at the improvement of outstation cricket as the game has spread far and wide in the country. Many Sri Lankan cricketing giants of the past and the present are those who have either won the prestigious and coveted Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award or one of the many awards presented at the contest.

Kumar Dharmasena
Former Sri Lanka cricketer

I must congratulate ANCL and Sunday Observer for keeping the show going for over 30 years. Sponsors are vital for the progress of sports in a country and ANCL has taken the lead and it helps the authorities to build up the youth.

Development of youth is very important as the youth are the ones who will take the country forward. The contest has been in existence for three decades and the competition is a fore-runner in helping the schoolboy to perform well.

Marvan Atapattu
Former Sri Lanka captain

The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year contest gave all the encouragement for me to forge ahead in the cricket world since I won the title in 1990 and also became the Best Batsman.

I would like to compliment the ANCL and Sunday Observer for keeping the show going for all these years. Schoolboy cricketers should be encouraged on a larger scale. This contest is sure to identify the talent and the high performances. I am confident that the up-and-coming schoolboy cricketers follow the same example set by those who won top awards at the contest.

Thilan Samaraweera
Sri Lanka cricketer

I owe my climb to the top in cricket due to this popular contest which I won way back in 1994 and 1995. I endorse this long standing contest as the best for schoolboy cricketers. The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Contest proved to be one of the best in the country. I am indeed happy that this contest has continued for over 30 years and my wish is that it goes on for many more years.

Farveez Maharoof
Sri Lanka cricketer

About 90 per cent of Sri Lanka cricketers have won awards in this contest. The game of cricket is now not confined to the popular schools. The game has spread throughout Sri Lanka. It is indeed happy to note more outstation cricketers have gained selections to Sri Lanka 'A" team Development Pool, Under-19 squad and the National team.

The Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show has been well received as the selections made by the umpires have been good throughout. The selections have had the desired results as those selected for awards have gone on to represent Sri Lanka.