Aravinda de Silva is a name synonymous with cricket around the world and when a legend like him speaks everyone has to sit back and listen because what he says is what he has learnt through his own experience. The most pertinent message De Silva made as chief guest at the 41st Observer/Mobitel School Cricketer of the Year awards ceremony at the Colombo Hilton on Friday was the important role parents, teachers and cricket coaches have to play in producing future leaders in cricket.

Kamil Mishara of Royal College Colombo was adjudged the Observer - Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer 2019 while Umesha Themeshani of Devapathiraja College Rathgama was named as the first Observer - Mobitel Schoolgirl Cricketer 2019 at the 41st Observer - Mobitel School Cricketer Awards ceremony held at the Hilton Colombo yesterday. The chief guest was legendary cricketer Aravinda de Silva. ANCL Chairman Krishantha Cooray, SLT-Mobitel Chairman Kumarasinghe Sirisena and Sunday Observer Editor Dharisha Bastians look on. Pictures by Chinthaka Kumarasinghe

Good old traditions will continue for the betterment of the game as the 41st Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year gala awards ceremony takes place at the Grand Ballroom of the Colombo Hilton starting at 5.30 pm today.

The Mega Show which has rendered yeoman service to thousands of up and coming schoolboy cricketers across the country for over four decades is organized by Sri Lanka’s flagship English newspaper Sunday Observer and sponsored by the country’s national mobile service provider Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel.

Widely considered as one of the greatest batsmen ever produced by Sri Lanka Deshabandu Aravinda de Silva will be the chief guest at the 41st Observer/Mobitel School Cricketer of the Year awards night today.

De Silva, a former captain is renowned for helping Sri Lanka to win the 1996 Cricket World Cup and for bringing his country from underdog status to present day form. He has held various posts in Sri Lanka Cricket after his retirement in 2003.