Dialog-ST 2019: Schoolboy Cricketer Lakshitha to undergo special training in Australia

It's a first and an opportunity of a life-time as Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe--the newly crowned Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer 2019 will undertake a three-week long training at the prestigious Darren Lehman Cricket Academy (DLCA) in Australia. 

Dialog Axiata PLC, in collaboration with Wijeya Newspapers Ltd initiated this massive venture to further bolster their annually held programme to discover the school cricket star, who will very soon reach the national stream. 

Manasinghe had excelled not only in batting but also in bowling. 

His right arm off-spin will be key to his success in future to be an outstanding all-rounder to Sri Lanka cricket. 

“I am really happy to have this opportunity," said a jubilant Manasinghe. 

"I want to grab every opportunity that comes my way to realize my dream of playing for Sri Lanka. Everyone dream of becoming the schoolboy cricketer of the year and to get that was a great feeling." 

Manasinghe--a product of Nalanda College, Colombo was grateful for the training opportunity offered. 

"This will be a great stepping stone for my career. I am grateful to both Dialog and Wijeya Newspapers for the opportunity bestowed on me to train in one of the well reputed training facility in Australia," he added. 

In addition to the prestigious award, he was named the Best All-rounder and Best Fielder. 

DLCA was founded by Darren Lehman, the former Australian cricketer, who later coached Australia. 

The DLCA gives the budding players not only batting, bowling, and fielding but strength and conditioning, personal development and tactics and leadership training as well. 

Manasinghe, another fantastic all-rounder and a product of Nalanda College, Colombo, an institution that has been producing top class cricketers to the national side since the time Sri Lanka gained the Test status in 1981. 

Starting from the pioneers, first Test captain Bandula Warnapura, Jayantha Seneviratne, Stantley Jayasinghe, Carl Obsesekera, Anura Ranasinghe, Sanath Kalupueruma, Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinha, Kumara Dharmasena and recently retired Mahela Jayawardena are the players of outstanding calibre who graduated from Nalanda. 

Commenting, Harsha Samaranayake, Senior General Manager - Brand and Media of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “It is indeed an honour and privilege for Dialog to sponsor this momentous event that recognises and rewards the future talent of Sri Lanka cricket. Dialog together with Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, is proud to sponsor Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe to attend the world renowned Darren Lehman Cricket Academy in Australia. We wish him and all our young sportsmen and women the very best.” 

“We, as Wijeya Newspapers (Pvt) Ltd, partnering with Dialog Axiata PLC, are pleased to offer Manasinghe this magnificence scholarship at Darren Lehman Cricket Academy (DLCA), a month-long training, not only to play cricket but very specially to improve his tactics and leadership qualifies. Our company’s aim is to gift the nation a fruitful cricketer. “I wish him every success in his cricketing future," said Assistant General Manager (Brand and Promotions) of Wijeya Newspapers Ltd Sujith Pathirannehe.

It has become routine, that every winner of the prestigious Schoolboy Cricketer Award were lucky enough to don the Sri Lanka jersey in the past. 

Another Nalandian Lakshitha Rasanjana Manasinghe, this year's winner, is blossoming to become a colourful cricketer in the country. 

If winning the prestigious Dialog 4G-the Sunday Times Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2019 award an honour and privilege, the training programme facilitated by Dialog Axiata PLC and Wijeya Newspapers Ltd, would be an extra feather in his cap to reach his ultimate goal -- the national team.