Kodagoda of Gateway Int. gathers the most number of votes this year

Though Thurstan 1st XI skipper Sajeewa Salgado maintains a healthy run in the main contest of the of the Batathe Sunday Times Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2012 competition, in numbers the International category leader Lakshan Kodagoda has the say. Kodagoda, an all-rounder representing Gateway International School, Rajagiriya has gathered 23,876, the most number votes received by a schoolboy cricketers for this year in this competition. As the staggering number of votes by Kodagoda, his career has been glittering one though the period is off season for international schools cricket. Kodagoda has been a constant contributor for Gateway cricket, while representing the 1st XI cricket team for many years and many a times steering his team towards worthy wins. This season, which is yet to kick off, Kodagoda is well set to perform at his best when it begins in a couple of months.

While the All-island category is still led by Thustanite Salgado who further added 1719 votes for his overall tally, which now reads as 12030, the battle for the second slot has been stepped up between Angelo Jayasinghe and Shiran Anuruddhika. The gap between Jayasinghe, the Maris Stella skipper and Anuruddhika, the De Mazenod all-rounder has pruned down to 578 as Royal Panadura skipper Charith Ruchiranga managed to regain the fourth slot after a long lapse. Last weekend Ruchiranga was slightly behind his team mate Madhawa Fernando but by the 12th week he managed to swap places. Others in the list, who are still with treble figures virtually, remain the same.

In the Emerging Schools category, indications of future changes came to forecast this week. While St. John’s Panadura skipper and all-rounder Sasindu Perera still holds on the category Tharindu Guruge of President’s College Kotte made a sudden barge-in to the top. Last week Guruge was in the third place but he managed to topple Shenal Deelaka of Piliyandala Central to come into the second slot while threatening the strong- Sajeewa Salgado Angelo Jayasinghe Shiran Anuruddhika Charith Ruchiranga Madhawa Fernando Lakshan Edirisinghe Kavindu Ashan Dishan Dissanayake Thanusha Jayawardane Sachin Peiris Jason Perera Shehan Dilasri Sasindu Perera Tharindu Guruge Shenal Deelaka Mohamed Shilmy Aruna Dharmasena Samitha Ratnasuriya Anas Mohamed

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

Lakshan Kodagoda Nishan Perera Shehan Hettiarachchi Amjad Ifthikar hold of leader Perera. Guruge is just 156 votes behind Perera and in the coming weeks a drastic change could be expected. The International Schools category is being led by Lakshan Kodagoda who expanded his lead from Nishan Perera by 3751 votes. Perera of Lyceum Nugegoda was again in contention for the top spot last week but it seems as Kodagoda has managed to secure his place for another week as the competition is expected to become more interesting out of all three. To make the competition more interesting readers can send in as many coupons as they wish until May 23. Thurstan College Maris Stella College De Mazenod College Royal College Panadura Royal College Panadura Zahira College Royal College Panadura St. Joseph’s College St. Peter’s College S. Thomas’ College St. Benedict’s College Maris Stella College

EMERGING SCHOOLS

12030 4648 4070 3037 2471 833 592 362 316 275 126 116 Readers’ prizes go to: 1. M.M. Zihar Ahamed, 17, Police Quarters, Panadura South. 2. Hiran Sajith, 53/8, Awariwatta, Katunayake. 3. Sachin Selliah, 14B, First Lane, Beddagana Road, Pitakotte. 4. Disna Perera, 152/5, Nugemulla, Rukmale, Pannipitiya.