All roads lead to BMICH for Mega show today

All roads will lead to Colombo's picturesque BMICH as it hosts the 42nd Observer SLT Mobitel Schools Cricketers of the Year 2020 award ceremony starting at 5.30 pm today.

Sri Lanka’s leading English Newspaper with the largest circulation the Sunday Observer will host the Mega Show for the 43rd consecutive year since 1979. Sri Lanka’s national mobile service provider SLT Mobitel will sponsor the show for the 15th consecutive year.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit all over the world early last year, all global activities came to a complete standstill. Hence, there was no exception in Sri Lanka as sports events too came to a complete stop after Royal-Thomian Battle of the Blues encounter in mid-March last year. Ever since, there were no school cricket activities for a complete one year until last March.

But the Observer Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Schools Cricketers of the Year went uninterrupted. We saw a few other newspapers and sponsors teaming up to organize similar school cricket award shows but abandoned when the Covid-19 came. As the first and the pioneer in the business, we were more than happy to welcome those as the ultimate beneficiary of all these have been school cricketers.

When the Covid-19 caused havoc and all sponsors of those cricket award shows departed their partners, only SLT Mobitel stood strong with the Sunday Observer to exercise their corporate social responsibility. Hence, the SLT Mobitel and Sunday Observer became the only partners to honour school cricketers even during Covid-19 hit last year as the Mother of all Cricket Awards Shows.

Thus, the Observer SLT Mobitel Schools Cricketers of the Year will march forward with more power and energy as the schools cricket award show which was with them when it mattered the most.

At the same time after Tuesday’s awards ceremony for the achievements during the 2019-2020 seasons, the 43rd Observer SLT Mobitel Schools Cricketers of the Year would continue to once again reward the 2020-2021 top performers towards end of this year.

Gracing the show will be former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasiriya, fresh after his leading role for Sri Lanka at the Legends World Cup in India. Loads of music, dance and entertainment acts with the experience-sharing only speech by the chief guest.

Jayasuriya, who was adjudged the Player of the Tournament at Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup triumph. He has once again proved his grit when he played for Sri Lanka Legends after undergoing four operations including two knee surgeries and a heart stent. That’s really a classic example only legends such as Jayasuriya could perform.

Today’s colourful entertainment will be performed by the cream of artists who are really the top of the pops now. Derana Dream Star 2020 winner Falan Andrea will lead the team along with ever-popular Randhir Witana. Two other popular artists Tehani Imara and Madhuvy Vaithialingam are among others

lined top for the evening with Gayan Dance Troupe in attendance.

The lively 150-minute show, coordinated by the leading event organizer Funtime under the direction of evergreen Imran Saibo, will be presented by evergreen Clifford Richards and Sonali Perera.

Sri Lanka Telecom Group Chairman Rohan Fernando, from his early background at S Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia as a rower to his elevation to former Sri Lanka Rowing chief and Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka made us extremely proud.

Chairman of ANCL, President’s Counsel W. Dayaratne has given his fullest backing to make this event a success.

The ANCL director board - Director Editorial Dharma Sri Kariyawasam, Director Legal and Administration, Rakhitha Abeygunawardhana, Director Finance, Janaka Ranatunga and Director Operations, Canishka Witharana have always supported this huge task.

ICC Chief Match Referee and former Sri Lanka captain Ranjan Madugale, the first ever winner of the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1979, said he was delighted to see the smooth progress of the event. “Winning an award here is a lasting memory and I will treasure that moment forever,” he said.

Sri Lanka s World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year twice in 1980 and 1982, said it’s a tremendous boost for a schoolboy when he receives an award here. You may go places and win many other awards at higher levels, but an award won at the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year event remains the most memorable in any cricketer’s life,” he said.