The first product of Dharmaraja College to become a match referee in division one cricket Mahinda Pethiyagoda - was a fiery pace bowler and gave his best for the school and Kandy. He was talented and had all the attributes a great cricketer should have. Moreover, he was possibly the most versatile bowler during his school playing days. He could swing the ball both ways, could bowl with an upright seam, was quick enough and had a lethal yorker. He was a great exponent of the reverse swing and could be deadly with the old ball.
He first played from 1971 to 1973 and in his first year in 1971 was able to pocket sixty wickets in inter-school cricket and he continued his good work in 1973. Mahinda’s most memorable bowling figure was a match bag of 12 for 89 runs against Ananda College in his first year in 1971 and in 1973 pocketed a match bag of 10 for 76 runs against Maliyadeva College, and bowled well for Central Province schools against visiting Aussie schoolboys in 1972, where he had 4 for 39. Then in 1973 he led the Central Province Schools Cricket Team against Indian Railways.
He also had the privilege of representing Sri Lanka Schools in the same year under Gary Melders leadership against Tamil Nadu in Colombo.
Mahinda also played for the Board President's XI under Ranjith Fernando against the visiting Indian cricket team led by Ajith Wadekar in 1974. Since leaving school, he continued his cricket and played division one cricket in 1974 and 1975 under Mahes Gunatilleke and then played for Bloomfield A & CC under Bandula Warnapura in 1976. He then went on to captain Kandy Cricket Club in 1984 in the division one cricket tournament. His best bowling figures in division one cricket - 7for 50 against Sebastianites and 5 for 10 against Police when representing Kandy C.C. In addition to division one cricket, he has also played regularly in Mercantile ‘A’ division cricket from 1975 onwards. for Ceylon Tobacco.
He started his cricket at the age of eleven, and against Trinty College in an under 12 game, he pocketed 6 for 14, that is where he got interested in the game. One time he was also a match referee in division one cricket and became the first Rajan to hold this position. He also played for Tobacco Company and also did well in Football, and rugby.
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