Sri Lanka, June 23 -- Umesh Karunarantne became the first cricketer from Thurstan College to win the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, some 11 years ago. Karunaratne won the Mega Award in 2008, 30 years after the launch of Sri Lanka's first ever schools cricket awards show.
What is unique in Karunaratne becoming the first and only Thurstanite so far to win the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year prize is that he received the Mega Award from ICC Chief Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle, exactly 30 years after the Royalist had won the first ever title.
When the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year celebrated its 40th anniversary last year too, Madugalle was the chief guest to encourage the country's budd...