Big Match: Battle of the Blues Old Boys’ game on Sunday

The prelude to the traditional Big Match between Royal and S. Thomas' Colleges will be staged at the SSC ground on Sunday (1) between the old boys of both schools.   The first match in the series was played in 1992 when R.C. Gulasekharam, the present Chairman of the Organising Committee, mooted the idea of a match between the old boys of the two schools based on traditional games of this nature held in many countries.   The match is sponsored by Sivaji de Zoysa and Shivantha de Zoysa while the chief Guests will be Tharaka Subasinghe (RC) and Anura Bulankulame (STC).   Royal Old Boys Over-40 squad: Z. Hameed (Capt), Nalliah Devarajan, Kapila Dandeniya, Rochana Jayawardena, Gamini Perera, Chinthaka Edirimanna, Udaya Wijesena, N. de Alwis, S. Liyanage, Harith Jayasooriya, Chanaka Liyanage, Kanishka Herath, Lloyd Abeyaratna, Nalliah Rajan, Suresh Wijemanna, Ruwan Kolonne.   S. Thomas' Old Boys Over-40 squad: Vajira Wijegunawardane (Capt), Mahinda Halangoda, Kappila Wijjegunawardene, Ken de Alwis, Anura Bulankulame, Nisal Fernando, Naresh Adikaram, Aruna Gunawardene, Arjuna Waidyasekara, N.I.C. Silva, Suresh Wijesinghe, Sivaranjan, Manoj Mendis, Chandima Jayawardene, Janeesha Ratnadasa.   Royal Open squad: Chathuranga Somapala, Danushka Edirisooriya, Kanishka Boteju, Shafraz Saldeen, Dulanjaya Wijerathne, Haroon Mawojood, Malinga Maligaspe, Anjana Kudahetty, Maneesha Thanthirigoda, Chathura Rajarathne, Chalaka Bogoda, Anupa Thilakarathne, Andrew Perera, Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ramith Rambukwella, Imran Khan, Kithruwan Vthanage, Poorna Aluthge, Milan Abesekara, Heshan Kumarasiri, Menuka Keenawinna.   S. Thomas' Open squad: Ashan Peiris (Capt), Navin Perera, Sanesh de Mel, Thilaksha Sumanasiri, Madushan Ravichandrakumar, Nilshan Fernando, Nigel Adams, Akthab Carder, Sashrika Pussegolla, Sajith Kularatne, Danushka Colambage, Devin Jayasinghe, Rayendra Karunaratne, Chamod Pathirana.   Organising Committee: R.C. Gulasekaram, Priyantha Gunasekara, Kushantha Perera, Prasanna Lenaduwa, Chandana Dissanayake, Vajira Wijegunawardena, Mahida Halangoda, Ken de Alwis, Nalliah Devarajan, Nalliah Rajan, Ruwan Kolonne, Suresh Wijemanna.