By BIPIN DANI
Riyaz Aluher, the mentor of Sineth Jayawardena, who has been appointed the captain of Sri Lanka Squad for ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024 believes that the 19-year-old right-arm off-spinner will bring glory to our Royal College.
Riyaz Aluher is the assistant principal and in-charge of 35 sports at the college, where Sineth is studying.
Speaking exclusively, he said, "Sineth is in his Advanced Level class. He missed his Advanced Level examination this year due to his national commitments but I am sure he will bring glory to the college".
"He is presently the captain of our Royal College. Our college annually plays a three-day traditional cricket match against Thomas College. This year, it will be the 145th uninterrupted occasion and it is the longest school's encounter in the world".
"In 1979, on the 100th year, our college team was led by Ranjan Madugalle, who is the ICC's chief match referee. The Sri Lankan president His Excellency Hon. Ranil Wichramsinghe and the Prime Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardana are also the sons of our College".
"Royal–Thomian (the Battle of the Blues), commonly known simply as the Royal-Thomian, the cricket match has been played by the schools since 1879. This annual cricket match is played for the D. S. Senanayake Memorial Shield, and is affectionately known as the Battle of the Blues due to the colours of each school's flag".
"The Royal-Thomian is the second-longest uninterrupted Cricket series in the entire world, preceded only by the Cricket Intercol played between Prince Alfred College, Adelaide and St. Peter's College, Adelaide, whose first match was played in 1878".
"We hope our college captain Sineth will lead the national senior team soon in the future", he signed off.
