Sri Sumangala College Squad: Vidusha Peiris (Captain), Kavindu Gayathra (Vice Captain), Vishwa Lahiru, Rasika Dilshan, Manmitha Kahapalaarachchi, Akila Wedamulla, Senira Wijegunasinghe, Mavindu Kumarasiri, Krishan Eranga, Neksha Iddamalgoda, Dinal Weerasinghe, Sandeep Weerasinghe, Bihanga Silva, Anuhas de Silva, Rusith Jayawardana.
The 72nd Battle of the Golds cricket encounter between Sri Sumangala College (SSC) and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya (MMV) will take place at De Soysa International Cricket Stadium, Moratuwa on 29th and 30th March 2024 and the 31st One Day Encounter will take place on 31st March 2024.
The first encounter between the two schools dates back to 1934 and it’s believed to be the 11th oldest big match in the country. Of the 71 big matches played between the two schools until 2023, Sumangalians won 08 and Moraliyans 07, with the rest being declared draws.
The first victory for Sumangalians was in 1962 under the captaincy of S. Sigera while the first victory for Moraliyans was in 1956 under the captaincy of T. Hapugoda.
The last time Sri Sumangala College won the Battle of the Golds was in 2007 under the captaincy of Iresh Pushpakumara and for Moratu Maha Vidyalaya it was in 2010 under the captaincy of Anuruddhika Kalhara.
Among the many successes of Sri Sumangala College, Iresh Pushpakumara’s 08 wickets in an inning in the 2007 big match, is the best bowling figure in history and Roshan Wimalasena’s 153 in 1996 is the highest score in history. In the 1981 big match, Ravin Wickramaratne set another record by scoring an unbeaten 104 runs and taking 5 wickets with a hat trick. Interestingly, Wickramarathna has also been
elected as the Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket. A few other victories for Sumangalians include 1975 Captain Tissa Eleperuma representing the Ceylon Team before the test status was granted, 1983 Captain Don Anurasiri being the first Sumangalian to present Sri Lanka’s test cricket team, who was subsequently followed by 1995 Captain Indika Gallage and 2001 Captain Dilruwan Perera. In 2023, 2023 captain Vishwa Lahiru was selected to represent the Sri Lanka U19 National Team and in 2024 in the U19 World Cup.
A few other remarkable cricketers in the local playing field who began their cricketing career at Sri Sumangala College including Kaushal Silva, Kithruwan Vithanage and Oshada Fernando.
Moratu Maha Vidyalaya Squad: Mahith Appihami (Captain), Isuru Nidarshana (Vice Captain), Deneth Sithumina, Vihanga Nimsara, Shehara Fernando, Kanchana Nimshan, Hasindu Gimsara, Vihanga Nethsara, Himash Tharushka, Nishitha Fernando, Malith Shehan, Akalanka Silva, Sandaneth Yahampath, Sanjana Senevirathne, Sandun Suwaris, Sithum Silva.
Moratu Maha Vidyala holds the unique record of becoming the one and only school in Sri Lanka which has produced national cricketers both in men’s and women’s categories. Sarath Fernando and Bernard Perera of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya represented the nation before Sri Lanka obtained the test status.
Ajantha Mendis from Moratu Maha Vidyalaya who reintroduced mystery to spin bowling was the first test player to represent Sri Lanka followed by Nishan
Madushka. Further, former Sri Lankan player, Hasantha Fernando played up to under 15 in Moratu Maha Vidyalaya and Lucky Roger represented the Sri Lankan under-19 team in 1988. Inoshi Fernando and Upeksha Thabrew represented the nation in women’s cricket who are old girls of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
The one-day encounters, which began 31 years ago in 1993, have resulted in 15 victories for Sumangalians, 12 for Moraliyans, 02 matches where no decision was taken and a match not played in 2001.
Vidusha Peiris will captain Sri Sumangala College. Vidusha Peiris is the son of Sri Sumangala College 1993 Captain Arosha Peiris. Mahith Appuhami will be captain Moratu Maha Vidyalaya.
Both the Principals, Raweendra Pushpakumara of Sri Sumangala College and Ruwan Arambepola of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya along with the Head coaches Asela Perera (Sri Sumangala College) and Sanjaya Dissanayake (Moratu Maha Vidyalaya) are making every effort to maintain high discipline on all three days.
In the 2023/2024 cricketing season, Sumangalians have performed incredibly well. Sumangalians so far has played 08 matches in the U19 Division II Tier A tournament 1st round and has secured 07 winnings with 05 innings wins, 01 outright wins and 01 matches ended with no decision. Moraliyans has played 08 matches in the U19 Division I Tiear B tournament 1st round and has secured 06 wins with 01 wins by innings, 05 1st inning wins, and they lost 01 match by innings and 01 match in the 1st innings.
For Sri Sumangala College Duranla Silva scored more than 500 runs with 02 centuries and Krishan Eranga scored more than 400 runs with a century. Rusith Jayawardana also scored more than 400 runs with a century and Sri Lanka U19 National Player Vishwa Lahiru scored more than 400 runs with 02 centuries. Neksha Iddamalgoda scored more than 400 runs with a century and the Vice Captain Kavindu Gayathra scored more than 300 runs with a century. From the bowling department, Sri Lanka U19 National Player Vishwa Lahiru and Mevindu Kumarasiri have grabbed more than 50 wickets each so far.
For Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, Vice Captain Isuru Nidarshana scored more than 600 runs and Deneth Sithumina scored more than 500 runs. Kanchana Nimshan scored more than 400 runs and Captain Mahith Appuhami scored more than 300 runs. From the bowling department, Vice Captain Isuru Nidarshana and Nishitha Fernando have gabbed more than 40 wickets each so far.
This year’s Battle of the Golds is fuelling by Anunine Holdings, Naturub, Dialog, Super Fashion, Shopimo and Singer Sri Lanka with their unprecedented support.
Both the Big Match and One Day Encounter will be LIVE telecast on Dialog Television – ThePapare TV HD (Channel Number 127), as well as a live stream on ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU App.
Sri Sumangala College, in Panadura, Sri Lanka, was founded in 1909 at Rankoth Viharaya in memory of Ven Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero, who played an important role in Buddhism on the island result of the Panadura Vadaya. One of the oldest schools in the country, this national school is one of the largest Buddhist schools in Sri Lanka, with a student population of over 4000 in 13 Grades.
In 1924, Sri Lanka Bauddha Samithiya Ltd was founded by MJC Fernando as Chairman with the objective of establishing a Buddhist school to uplift Buddhist Education in Moratuwa. Then Governor of Ceylon Sir Herbert J Stanley laid the foundation stone for the College in June 1929 and on 19 January 1934 Moratu Vidyalaya was declared open with 67 students enrolled.