• Cricketing history of Ananda from 1886-1960

In that historic year of 1886, a Buddhist high school was started at No. 61, Maliban Street, Pettah for Buddhist children by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and C.W. Leadbeater, a foreigner converted to Buddhism, who became the school’s first Principal. There were 37 students enrolled in the school.

Cricket, in keeping with English traditions, was the fashionable game in the Anglicised schools during that period. The Buddhist high school took to it, in its infancy. The school produced C.E. Perera, whose cricketing brought honour to the country along with N.C. Raju, D.J. Wimalasurendra, and H.D. Peiris, all of whom wielded the willow with great success. J.G.R. Weerasinghe in 1892 was the first recorded captain of cricket.

According to past records, the Buddhist high school’s name was changed to Ananda College on 17 August 1895 and the school shifted to Maradana from Maliban Street. Ananda were champions of the Second Division Inter-School Cricket in 1911 and Anandian D.L. Gunasekera captained the combined colleges. S.E. Tissera scored 115 runs against St. Benedict’s and 81 runs against Prince of Wales.

The cricket team pictured here is the oldest found so far. In 1911, the team wore the college blazer for the first time. It is on record that Principal M.U. Moore chose two colours – maroon and gold – for the college flag. The same two colours were used for the college blazer as well. The cloth for the blazers was imported from England and given to the team. Seated second from the right is Principal M.U. Moore.

Golden era under Principal Kularatne

In the 1920s under Principal P. de S. Kularatne, Ananda achieved maturity not only academically  but in sports as well. Subsequently, he appointed C.E.P. Kumarasinghe as the Prefect of Games of the college, in addition to his teaching.

Also, in 1920 Ananda was fortunate to own a four-acre playground in Campbell Place (it was shared by both Ananda and Nalanda till 1978). Nalanda College was built around the precincts of this ground.

While playing their cricket at Campbell Place, Ananda produced a few outstanding cricketers like D.W. Rajapathirana, N.M. Perera, and N. de S. Wijesekera, who were exceptionally good batsmen, and B.S. Perera, a brilliant all-rounder who, while still a schoolboy, played for Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) against the visiting team of the Maharajah of Vizianagaram.

Beginning of the Battle of the Maroons

The Ananda-Nalanda Big Match was first played in 1924 at Campbell Place, which began in a festive manner amidst pomp and pageantry and Ananda’s first Captain was K.A.P. Rajakaruna.  Ananda College stalwarts to figure in that first encounter were B. Somadasa Perera (later he joined Nalanda with the first batch of students who were transferred from Ananda by Principal P. de S. Kularatne), N.M. Perera, and Captain K.A.P. Rajakaruna. It was a mere ‘home and home’ match and nobody bothered very much about the result.

During 1926-’27, Ananda’s Captain was W.W. Dep and he scored 81 runs and captured 4 wickets in the Big Match. The remarkable bowling of B. Somadasa Perera was a special feature in both these years. In the year 1930-’32, G.P. Sumanadasa was Captain of the side and he scored the first recorded century in the Big Match. During Sumanadasa’s captaincy, there was P.D.H de Silva who bagged 15 wickets during the three years that he played the Big Match.

However, Sumanadasa’s performance was certainly the best in that year. He was honoured by being called upon to lead the combined colleges’ team. Sumanadasa also had the honour of heading in batting averages among schoolboy cricketers, beating F.C. de Saram by a small margin.

E.A. Perusinghe was Captain in the 1933 Big Match. In that game, B.A. Jayasinghe scored a stylish 65 runs and J. Jayasena captured 5 wickets.

The college crest was designed and introduced by Principal G.P. Malalasekera in 1934. Bandu Bodhinagoda led the first XI team in 1934 and in 1935. One of Ananda’s oldest cricket encounters was with Wesley College and Ananda supporters at ‘Mariyakade’ turned up in the thousands to witness the cricket match at Campbell Park. 

Progress in cricket during 1930s

Another landmark in Ananda’s forward march in inter-school cricket was the defeat inflicted on S. Thomas’ by B. Bodhinagoda’s team in 1934 at their own grounds in Mt. Lavinia. In the same year, Ananda won against St. Anthony’s Kandy, Dharmaja, Zahira, and Nalanda.

In the Big Match, B.A. Jayasinghe scored a half century and E. Rajakaruna and V.R. Perera captured 5 wickets each and the team was coached by B.S. Perera.

V.R. Perera who captained in 1936-’37 showed a fine performance when he scored 121 runs against Zahira. In the Big Matches, he captured 13 wickets.

Walter Perera who represented the college from 1938 to 1941 captained in 1940. The off-spinner established a bowling record in the Big Match by capturing 8 wickets for 51 runs. He also represented the combined schools’ cricket team.

M.A. Jayasinghe was Captain in 1941. During that period there was an aggressive fast bowler named Togo Sugathadasa, who was feared by the opposition.  

M.A. Jayasinghe, P.W. Perera, L.B.T. Premarathne, P.J. Ranatunge (Paguan), E.W. Balasuriya, and B.R. Fernando were prominent members of the team. Swinton Seneviratne, a college teacher, functioned as coach.

From 1942-1945, there was no cricket at the college due to the world war.

Cricket after world war

In 1946, Ananda played the Big Match under D.U.D.S. Hevavisenthi. This team included two brothers, Upali and Nissanka de Silva. Upali was a good batsman and Nissanka was an all-rounder. During that time, Ananda College played friendly matches against prominent first class cricket clubs such as SSC, Tamil Union, and CCC. 

These club matches were normally played during the third term and were captained by Nissanka de Silva. The team included Mervyn Wijesinghe (wicket-keeper/batsman), Sunny Kulatunga (medium pace bowler), and all-rounder P.W. Samarasekera (medium fast bowler). Former Thomian cricketer Robert Samarasekera who joined the tutorial staff served as cricket coach.

The 1947 cricket team was captained by D.U. Molligoda. The team also included players such as all-rounder K.D.S. Wimalasekera, Bonnie Wijesinghe, and Bobby Wickramasinghe.  Subsequently, Bobby Wickramasinghe led the team in 1948.

In 1949 and 1950, the Captain was W.K.D.S. Wimalasekera and there were good all-rounders such as Neil Kulatunge, Bobby Wickramasinghe, and Henry Seneviratne who scored heavily during their school matches. W.K.D.S. Wimalasekera played his last year under Bonnie Wijesinghe, who played for four years continuously and captained in the years 1951 and 1952.

In 1951, W.K.D.S. Wimalasekera scored 60 runs in the Big Match and N. Kulatunga captured 6 wickets. In the same year, L. de Silva scored 57 runs in the Big Match.  

Under Henry Seneviratne’s captaincy in 1953, there were good all-rounders in the team like U.D. Wariyapperuma, G.P. de Silva, Pathmasiri Silva, and Dhanasiri Weerasinghe. Pathmasiri Silva took over the captaincy in 1954 and there were a number of experienced players in the team.  Noel Perera, U.D. Wariyapperuma, Mahinda Jayainghe, Parakrama Molligoda, Rannjan Lecamwasam, Dhammika Ratnayake, R. de S. Weerasuriya, and hard-hitting batsman Dhanasiri Weerasinghe, who was captain in 1955, was fortunate to lead the side with talented cricketers.  

Stylish right hand batsman Daya Amarasinghe played a pivotal role. Opening bowler Nimal Tammita and spinners Anurudda Polonowita and Palitha Premasiri were the best among the schools. Bertram de Silva, D. Somasiri, and Mahinda Jayasinghe were good batsmen in the team.

Third-year player Mahinda Jayasinghe was the Captain in 1956 and that side was a balanced and experienced team. Sonny Yatawara was the opening bowler who was very effective and respected. D. Somasiri scored 80 runs and Daya Amarasinghe scored a half-century each in the 1956/1957 Big Match.

Lots of talent in the late ’50s

Anurudda Polonowita led the side in 1957 along with the star batting department. There was Daya Amarasinghe, Palitha Premasiri, N.G. Ekanayake, Yatagama Amaradasa, and Ananda P. Jayasinghe and famous fast bowler Sunny Yatawara. At the time, the college team was unbeaten and produced a few outstanding players for the country. Third-year player Palitha Premasiri was Captain in 1958 and there were new young faces among the team, namely, Parakrama Polonowita, Sarath Wimalaratne, and Mohanlal Fernando, who were fortunate enough to play along with players like Nimal Ekanayake, Yatagama Amaradasa, and Ananda P. Jayasinghe.

Left-hand batter N.G. Ekanayake – a third-year player – was Captain in 1959 and his deputy was Yatagama Amaradasa. The team consisted of Mohanlal Fernando, Sarath Wimalaratne, and T.D. Rajapaksa – a hard-hitting batsman and good fieldsman. In the Big Match, Captain N.G. Ekanayake and Mohanlal Fernando scored half centuries.

Yatagama Amaradasa was a versatile cricketer during 1957-1961 and in the year 1960, during which he captained. During that season, Ananda played 10 matches and won 7 matches outright. Against S. Thomas’ of Mt. Lavinia, Ananda could have won if they had a few extra minutes. 

In that era, all school cricket matches started at 12 noon on both days. That year for the first time, the Big Match commenced at 10.30 a.m. on both days to bring about a decision, but the game was unexpectedly washed off due to rain. In the same year, Yatagama was the winner of the prestigious ‘Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year’ award organised by The Sunday Times of Ceylon.

In the same contest, T.D. Rajapaksa was chosen as Best Fielder. In the Big Match, Mohanlal Fernando scored 54 runs and captured 6 wickets. The rest of the team comprised Parakrama Polonowita, Sarath Wimalaratne, Dharmasiri de Silva, Sarath Semasinghe, Rohan S. Daluwatte, Lakshman Hewagama, Upatissa Nikapitiya, and Kumar de Silva. Yatagama captained the Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) school team that toured India in 1961. Yatagama, Mohanlal Fernando, and T.D. Rajapaksa were also selected to play against the West Indies.

Former Anandian cricketer P.W. Perera’s tenure as Ananda’s cricket coach for 10 years (1950-1960) produced some brilliant players, while the team also was a formidable opponent to any side.

During the early years, most cricketers and other sportsmen at Ananda balanced their sports with studies. As a result, many of the cricketers became professionals after leaving college.