Dialog powers 72nd Battle of the Golds - Panadura Moratuwa

From left: Moratu Maha Vidyalaya Captain Mahith Appuhami, Old Moratu Maha Vidyalian’s Sports Club Assistant Treasurer Thilina Peiris, Moratu Maha Vidyalaya Principal Ruwan Arambepola, Dialog Axiata PLC Senior General Manager/ Dialog Television Head of Business Pubudu Aluthgedara, Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Marketing Officer Lasantha Theverapperuma, Sri Sumangala College Panadura Principal Raweendra Pushpakumara, Sri Sumangala College Past Cricketers’ Association Secretary Chamara Peiris and Sri Sumangala College, Panadura Captain Vidusha Peiris

As an extension of its efforts to nurture future sporting stars in Sri Lanka, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, has announced its corporate sponsorship for the 72nd edition of the ‘Battle of the Golds - Panadura Moratuwa’ cricket encounter between Sri Sumangala College, Panadura, and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya, Moratuwa, on 29 and 30 March at the De Soysa International Cricket Stadium, Moratuwa. 

Following this, the 31st limited-over cricket match will be held on 31 March at the same venue.

As the primary sponsor, Dialog Axiata has made provisions to broadcast the Big Match and the Limited Overs match LIVE on Dialog Television - ThePapare TV HD, as well as a livestream on ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU App.

Dialog Axiata Plc Group Chief Marketing Officer Lasantha Theverapperuma said. “The Big Match Season is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s sporting heritage, and we are thrilled to continue our support for this significant cricketing spectacle, which fosters future champions destined to represent our nation. I extend my heartfelt wishes to both Sri Sumangala College and Moratu Maha Vidyalaya for a thrilling cricket match.”

Vidusha Peiris will lead the team from Panadura, while Mahith Appuhami will captain the Moratuwa team. Currently, Sri Sumangala College   leads with 8 wins to Moratu Maha Vidyalaya’s 7, with 56 matches ending in draws. The 71st battle concluded in a draw due to persistent rain. Moratu Maha Vidyalaya scored 144 runs in 55.3 overs batting first, and Sri Sumangala College   was 86 for 3 in reply when rain intervened.

In limited-over encounters, Sumangalians leads with 15 wins to Moralaniyans 12 out of the 30 matches played. Two matches ended with no decisions, and one match was not played. 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. Both schools have produced notable cricketers to Sri Lanka’s national team.  Sarath Fernando, Bernard Perera, Ajantha Mendis and Nishan Madushka hail from Moratu  Maha Vidyalaya , while Tissa Eleperuma, Don Anurasiri, Indika Gallage, and Dilruwan Perera are proud products of Sri Sumangala.

 Former Sri Lankan Player, Hasantha Fernando started his school cricket at Moratu Maha Vidyalaya. Inoshi Fernando and Upeksha Thabrew represented the nation in women’s cricket who are old girls of Moratu Maha Vidyalaya. College and Sri Lanka U19 National Player Vishwa Lahiru is also a Sumangalian. Also, Kaushal Silva, Kithruwan Withanage and Oshada Fernando started their school cricket from Sri Sumangala College. Another notable Sumangalian is the Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President Ravin Wickramaratne, who still holds the Big Match Record of scoring a century (104 not out) and 5 for 26 with a hat-trick in 1981.