14 Wednesday 12th October, 2011 Praneeth Udumalagala: Nugawela Central clinch Milo U-18 All-Island plum Another cager champion TEXT AND PIX BY M. FAROOK LANTRA BY ROSHEN STEELMAN Nugawela Central College clinched the All-Island Milo trophy SC) were still concentrating on me. when they had the better of the formidable St. Sebastian’s College, ewly appointed National Probably, it was because I played well Kandana, in a fierce battle which they won by 17 points (1 goal 2 tries) cricket coach Geoff Marsh at a recent in the first semi-final playoff against to 14-points (2 goals), in the final in the U-18 All-Island Div II-Inter Nmedia briefing added that Sri Lanka them,” said Udumalagala, in an Schools Rugby tournament, played at the Vincent Dias Stadium, should look to the future rather than looking interview with ‘The Island’. Badulla, on October 10. at past champions. He also said Sri Lanka “Basketball is a team game. All At lemons, Nugawela Central were 10 points while St. Sebastian’s should look to produce new champions. the players should contribute were nil. The Basketball Club. will be towards victory.Therefore, I think The try scorers for Nugawela were M. Lahiru (2 tries) and S. thrilled as they found a schoolboy player Carlton SC did a mistake by deciding Chammika while for St. Sebastian’s the only try scorer was D. Shanaka who was able to dominate the recently con- to guard me from the half court line who planted two tries. cluded Carlton Cup Basketball Tournament, itself. I was well guarded and I was More than 400 participants from 27 schools participated in the which is rated as one of the best club tourna- not allowed to score freely, but by tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football ments in the country. doing so, they kept Roshan Randima Association (SLSRFA) and sponsored by Nestle Lanka PLC. As the youngest player in the tourna- and Roshan Fernando free. It was the The chief guest was Bandula Egodage, Asst. Vice President, ment, Praneeth Udumalagala played a key turning point of the match,” Corporate Affairs & Communications, Nestle Lanka PLC, while the role in Colombo BC’s triumph in the Carlton Praneeth said. guest of honour was Sajeewa Wickramamingha, Activations & Cup. Praneeth has represented Sri Sponsorship Manager, Nestle Lanka PLC. Colombo BC won the tournament with Lanka on a few overseas tours, but an unbeaten record, while the final turned his golden moment came when he RESULTS: out to be a one side affair. captained the Sri Lanka team in the Cup: Nugawela Central College Colombo BC beat the hosts Carlton SC 91- Sri Lanka 3 onto 3 World champi- Plate: Sri Rahula College, Katugastota who beat Moratuwa MV by 7 points 57, in the final. onship where Sri Lanka came up to 5. Praneeth initially took to basketball at with a creditable performance, where Bowl: Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, who beat Royal College his school, St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road, they were placed 22 in the overall Wayamba, by l0 points to 7. under the guidance of head coach Roshan rankings. Shield: S. D. S. Jayasingha Vidyalaya Dehiwela beat Eheliyagoda MV by 19 Randima, who is also a senior player of Praneeth Udumalaga (R) guards M. K. Shiran of Carlton SC in Apart from basketball, Praneeth points to 5. Colombo BC. the Carlton Cup final worked off recently. is among the top ranked swimmers in Referee Y. M. C. Ratnayaka. Praneeth found a rare opportunity when the country.Representing St. Joseph’s he had the luxury of playing under his coach ment. Therefore all credit should go to him.” College, he has established a number of meet at the Colombo Basketball Club. “I was the youngest to play in the tourna- records in championships conducted by the Explaining his experience playing under ment and when we made it to the final, as the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union and the Sri his coach Roshan Randima in the recently first substitute, national players such as Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association. concluded Carlton Cup Praneeth said that; Prageeth Pushpakumara and Chamath Above all he has won two international “Sir (Roshan Randima) is more experienced Danawanse of Carlton SC were guarding me medals representing Sri Lanka at the South than me. Most of the time I look at him and in from the half court line itself. At that point, I Asian Swimming and Water Polo between games I seek for his advice. This is felt a bit proud because there were so many Championship, which was held in Pakistan in the first that I played in a club level tourna- national players in my side but they (Carlton 2009.

The skipper of Nugawela Central I. G. Kasun Dhamapriya receives the Milo Cup Champion’s trophy from the chief guest, Bandula Egodage, Asst. Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications, Nestle Lanka PLC.

The champion team

A first for Gajaba The skipper of Sri Rahula College Katugastota, Ashvika Madhushan receives the Plate trophy from the guest of honour, Sajeewa For the first time in history, the Gajaba The direct supervision of Vanni The Annual Para- Wickramasinghe, Activations & Sponsorship Manager, Nestle Lanka Regiment won the Overall Championship, Commander, Gajaba Regiment and Special Games have been conducted since 1998. PLC. at Sri Lanka Army Para-Games 2011, win- Forces Regimental Commander, Major More than 1000 war heroes, represent- ning 65 golds, 60 silvers and 50 bronze General Sumedha Perera, the strategic ing the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Sri medals. directions of 58 Division Commander, Lanka Light Infantry, Sri Lanka Sinha In the process, they also established 27 Brigadier Nishshanka Ranawana, Regiment, , Gajaba records. Regimental Headquarters Battalion Regiment, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, The championship was held at the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sri Lanka Artillery, Sri Lanka Engineers, Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama. Kanishka Bandara and Commanding Sri Lanka Signals Corps, the Commando Commander of the Army, Lieutenant Officer in Charge of Sports, Major Regiment, Special Forces Regiment and General Jagath Jayasuriya was the chief Thushantha Dasanayake and the coaching Mechanized Infantry Regiment used this guest at the occasion. of Gunaratne, Dasanayake and the Sports platform to display their multiple sport tal- The Gajaba Regiment won the bad- Ministry’s coaches assisted the Gajaba ents in 72 track and field events. minton, athletics and wheelchair basketball Regiment team to win the Overall The tournament was held on September championships. Championship. 28 and 29. Colombo University, winners of Int’l Inter-varsity Cricket The skipper of Dharmapala Vidyalaya Ciradh Diluka receives the Bowl trophy from Susantha Mendis, Secretary, SLSRFA. Colombo University cricket team emerged champions of the International Inter-varsity Cricket Tournament held in Malaysia from September 30 to October 9. This tournament was organ- ised by the National University of Malaysia, Kebangsaan University. The Colombo University Cricket Team: Buddika Kulathunga, Mahesh Sandaruwan, Kasun Wijegunawardana, Thisara Sethunga, Amila Siriwardana, Chanaka Wijegunawardana, Anurada Jayampathi, Kasun Abeysundara, Tharindu Hirantha, Nipun Fernando, Dinesh Hasantha, Chathuranga Wickramaarachchi, Mihindu The skipper of S. D. S. Jayasingha Vidyalaya, Dehiwela, M. Dilrukshan Ariyarathne, Pathum receives the Shield award from S. A. Gamini Sarathchandra, Tournament The victorious Colombo University cricket team after their arrival in Sri Lanka, at the airport. (Pic by Prasad Kodithuwakku and Kasun Secretary, SLSRFA. Kumaeanasinghe, Airport Corr.) Karunarathna.