Sylvestrians Cricketer Ranga Dissanayake

Full name Wickramasinghage Ranga Dinesh Dissanayake

Born September 23, 1979, Kandy 

Current age 30 years 310 days

Major teams Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm offbreak

School St.Sylvesters College, Kandy. 

More Details Cricinfo

Old Boy of Sylvesters Senior Supdt.. of Police Vimal Samarasekara dies.

He was relatively young but fate suddenly claimed this life, when he was at work as a Senior Superintendent of Police attached to the ‘Joint operations command room coordinating work with the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

He was born on December 30th 1951 at Ambiliya in Kandy and had his secondary education at St. Sylvester's College, Kandy where he played cricket and soccer, and cricket was his forte.

He joined the police as a Sub Inspector on 1973 and passed out from the police college Kalutara in 1974 and was posted to Galle. The Supdt.. of Police at that time at Galle knew Vimal’s bowling ability and was taken into the Galle division cricket team immediately.

From Galle he was transferred to Badulla and after a short time he was transferred out of Badulla to the CID.

When the Ministerial Security Division (M.S.D.) was formed, I had the fortune to be its first OIC and had about 35 Inspectors with me, and Vimal came on transfer here, and was detailed as the Chief Security Officer to then Minister & Education late Mr. Nissanka Wijeratna in 1979.

The same year we became the ‘C’ Division Cricket Champions and the then DIG/CID, Herbert Weerasinghe came up and congratulated Vimal for his brilliant performance, obtaining six wickets in the 2nd second innings.

Vimal was promoted to the rank of Inspector in 1980, as ASP on 1992 and as Superintendent five years later. At the time of his death, he was a Senior Supdt.. of Police.

His demise is a loss to the Department and a bigger loss to his friends.

U-15 and U-17 Cricket Tournaments.

The Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association Oraganaized the under 15 and under 17 cricket tournements comming soon. St.Sylvesters Under 17 in P Group and Under 15 in V Group.

The draw of the Under- 15 Tournament

Group V: Rahula College, Matara, Gurukula Vidyalaya, Kelaniya, St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, Thurstan College, Colombo (A), Trinity College, Kandy (A), St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa (A).

The draw of the Under-17 Tournament

Group ‘P’- D. S. Senanayake, Colombo, St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy, Carey College, Colombo, St. Servatius’ College, Matara, St. Sebastian’s College ‘A’, Moratuwa, St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota.

School rugby’s record try-scorer Mohamed Rinaz recalls feat

Holder of the Sri Lanka schools rugby try-scoring record Rinaz Mohamed says that his harvest of 33 tries in 2001 is now worth more than what it ever was after witnessing the concluded League season that his old school St. Peter’s College won.

“The 33 record tries amazed me, but now looking back I am more proud than I ever was”, said Rinaz who is back in Sri Lanka from studies in England. Rinaz was the star performer in the 2001 season in which his powerful runs made him the most feared winger at the time.

He could have also become a top class athlete but contends that he preferred a team sport. “I did enjoy my athletics, but I wanted to be a team player not just an individual”, said Rinaz who has enrolled at CR and FC.
Having crossed over to St. Peter’s College from St. Sylvester’s College in Kandy to pursue a rugby career at the age of 14, Rinaz said he had no words to describe how his life changed.

“I owe it to St. Peter’s College. They gave me more than I ever dreamed of. My life has changed in so many ways and I can call myself a professional in many ways”, said Rinaz who also scored 36 tries playing for an English side called Milwall Rugby Club last season.

Sylvester -Vidyartha Rugby encounter to be played for a trophy

The Vidyartha and St. Sylvester’s rugby encounter this year will be played for a trophy. The match was scheduled to be played on August 5 at the Nittawela ground but has been postponed by a week to August 12 due to the non availability of the grounds.
It is understood that the trophies are to be named in memory of two past principals, the late Bertie Nilagoda of St Sylvester’s who re-introduced rugby to the school in the mid 1980’s and Vidyartha’s late PML Banda.
Rugby football made a modest start in 1954 at St. Sylvester’s. That year they played only one game, against the University of Peradeniya and lost by 6 point to 16.
Malcolm Marshall who later played for the Navy and Defence Services was the first captain of St Sylvester’s. Bobby Jayaweera was the first coach and the Rector was Rev. Fr. Robert Perera. After a few years the school gave up the game and it was re-introduced by the late Bertie Nilagoda in 1986.

Ex-Sylvestrian cricketer Hiran Rajakaruna dies

Former St. Sylvester’s College and Central Zone Schools fast bowler Hiran Rajakaruna who has the record of having taken four wickets in four balls in a big match passed away after a brief illness and his funeral took place at the family burial grounds at Pilimatalawa, a township close to Peradeniya.

Hiran Rajakaruna was a deadly fast bowler with a slightly suspect action but he has been cleared by all umpires of that time at all levels of cricket except at International level. He played for his alma mater sharing the new ball for four years and managed to get over 50 wickets every season.

He is best remembered for his deadly bowling in the big match against Vidyartha College at Police grounds, Kandy in 1967. Vidyartha College led by former Deputy Inspector General of Police R.M. Lafir held the upper hand against their rivals and were set a small target to win with plenty of time.

But Hiran Rajakaruna in a sensational spell of bowling captured four wickets in four balls which included the hat-trick and almost brought the Sylvestrians to the throes of victory before the Vidyarthians hit off the 20 odd runs required for victory. All his victims were clean bowled.

This performance still stands a record in a big match and is recorded as one of the best bowling efforts in a school match.

Hiran Rajakaruna also played for the Central Zone Schools and the Kandy Schools in the then inter zonal tournament matches.

On leaving school he took up employment at Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation in the Upcountry. He played Sara Trophy cricket for Dimbula and also rugby as a Flanker for the Radella Club in the seventies.

Islamic majlis Committee Members 2003