Kodagoda tops twenty thousand mark

Thurstan 1st XI cricket skipper Sajeewa Salgado is in great shape to clinch the main competition of the Bata-the Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2012 competition. As at the eleventh week Salgado has expanded his lead by a massive 6074 votes to secure the top spot with nine more weeks remaining. It all depends on how his closest rivals Angelo Jayasinghe and Shiran Anuruddhika. Jayasinghe, the Maris Stella skipper, still remains at number two with 4237 votes to his tally but if he receives more coupons in favour as the weeks pass by, the competition is likely to be a thrilling one with Anuruddhika in the fray. De Mazenod allrounder Anuruddhika who made a sudden surge to the third place last week can be a threat to Jayasinghe in time to come. Panadura Royal team-mates Madhawa Fernando and Charith Ruchiranga are followed by Zahira allrounder Lakshan Edirisinghe but by a thick margin. Panadura Royal all-rounder Kavidu Ashan remains where he is at seventh place followed by Dishan Dissanayake of St. Joseph’s. However Peterite Thanusha Jayawardane jumped one slot up as he traded his place with S. Thomas’ skipper Sachin Peiris who moved down.

St. John’s Panadura skipper and all-rounder Sasindu Perera still leads the Emerging Schools category followed by Shehan Deelaka of Piliynandala Central. But Tharindu Gamage made a sudden surge to the third place after receiving 267 votes during the past week, to push Mohamed Shilmy of St. Anthony’s Panadura down. Lakshan Koda- goda of Gateway still holds the top position of the International Schools category which is inten- sifying with thrills. Kodagoda lost his place to Nishan Perera of Lyceum International two weeks ago but last week he managed to retain his lost prestige. The battle between Kodagoda and Perera can generate more interest in this category of the competition in the coming weeks. To make the competition more interesting readers can send in as many coupons as they wish until May 23. 20315 18055 4025 2133 Readers’ prizes go to: 1. D.M. Paranagama, 197/3, Kaluwala Road, Heerassagala, Kandy. 2. N.K. Gunathilake, 60, Gunathilleke Road, Wadduwa. 3. Maduhansa Deshan, 43/2, Veniwelkola, Polgasovita. 4. E. Rodrigo, 15/203, Gunananda Mawatha, Colombo 13.