U-19 Cricket: Ananda and Zahira to clash for Unity Cup on Sunday

Ananda College and Zahira College, two schools from the neighbourhood of Maradana will take on each other in a One-Day Cricket traditional encounter for Unity Cup at Zahira ground on Sunday (28).

The much awaited encounter by all the students, players and the old boys is likely to attracted many supporters from both sides. 

The fixture of the encounter played for the T.B. Jayah Trophy named as the Unity Cup, is scheduled to commence at 09:30am. 

This is the second match since the revival and the respective Cricket Wings of the Old Boys hope that this will be an annual event in the future, to showcase unity and fellowship between two of the leading schools in Sri Lanka.

The Old Boys of Ananda and Zahira colleges came together in 2014 and revived the traditional encounter between the two] schools. 

Tuan Burhanuddin Jayah (T.B. Jayah) was a Sri Lankan educationalist, politician, diplomat and muslim community leader. 

He started his teaching career in 1910 and was invited in 1917, by the then principal of Ananda College, P.D.S. Kularatne, to teach History and Classics.  

He was then invited by Zahira College to be their principal where he served for 27 years. 

Under his stewardship, Zahira College became one of the leading schools in the country.

To show their gratitude and honour to the late T.B. Jayah, both Ananda and Zahira colleges are intensing to continue this encounter in years to come. 

The spectators will be treated to a very special attraction by the Under-11 teams of the respective schools who will be engaged in a five-over per-side softball game during the lunch break of the main cricket match.
 
Past cricketers and old boys of both schools are invited for the event and a distinguished old boy of Ananda College, Ranjith Pandithage will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The match is sponsored by Laugfs, Dialog & Nestle who have stepped forward to partner what is expected to be an exciting encounter.