A grand double for Ananda's coach Udayananda

CRICKET: Coaching the first XI cricket team at Ananda, Udayananda Perera achieved a grand double on a back to back basis for seasons 2005/6 and 2006/7.

In the seasons 2005/6, he produced a champion team to bag the prestigious 'Lemonade Trophy'. Udaya was largely instrumental in Ananda regaining the schools' limited overs crown, after a wait of over five years.

Incidentally, 2005/6 season was the first season for Udaya as the Ananda first XI coach. The skipper of the side, Chathura Herath, represented the Sri Lanka Under 19 side and also became the best fielder in the main school boy Cricketer Award Contest.

This season, Udaya added many feathers to his cap namely:

1. Beating Royal after 47 years (this too very convincingly by innings and at Royal Grounds). 2. Beating St. Sebestian's (Moratuwa) a star studded side for the first time and this too by an innings.) 3. A total of four outright victories were recorded, all by innings.

4. Producing the "Schoolboy Cricketer" of the year, Malith Gunatileke, best allrounder, best fielder, runner up (Dinesh Chandimal Lokuge). Malith also became the most popular schoolboy cricketer and bagged four major awards. Ananda produced a schoolboy cricketer after a lapse of nine years. Muthumudalige Pushpakumara won this award way back in 1999. 5. Dinesh Chandimal Lokuge who was discovered and brought to Ananda by Udaya (paying the school admission fees by himself) come off with flying colours against Indian under 19 side, notching a superb 143 at Asgiriya and saving the game for Sri Lanka under 19. 6. Ananda first XI team, representing the Old Anandians Sports Club in the Board Division One under 23 tournament, did remarkably well by beating many fancied sides, with a number of batsmen scoring centuries and double centuries.

During the 2 seasons Udaya produced 19 colourmen for Ananda first XI cricket team. Udaya was elated when "2006 Ananda wonder boy" Amal Athulathmudali was selected to represent Sri Lanka at "Hongkong" Sixes this year.

At junior level (under 17), during the season 2006/7, Ananda did not lose a single game on "first innings basis", even though the team was a very young one.

Udaya played for Ananda during 1969-1971 and was a very smart wicket keeper and an excellent team man. On leaving school, he played cricket for Police, SSC and BRC.

He also captained the state services team in the division 1 Robert Senanayake trophy.