Rasitha Dilan - the outstation star

Leslie Fernando

Bandaranayake College, Gampaha skipper and all-rounder Rasitha Dilan won the Outstation Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer Award with a majority of 23,917 votes over Shehan Silva of Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa.

Rasitha received 59,090...votes while Shehan received 35,173...votes. In the final coupon (No. 17) Rasitha polled 5228 votes and Shehan polled 1216 votes. Chandimal Pathirana of St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala took third position with 19,838 votes. He polled 12 votes in the coupon No. 17.

Rasitha has one worry and that is he has no father. His father P.R. Sumanadasa died when he was very young and the family finds it a bit difficult to get through their day-to-day activities.

He wants to carry on playing cricket, but is anxious of getting employed so that he will be able to help the family too.

Some old boys of Bandaranayake College, Gampaha and close relatives are extending a helping hand so that the family is able to carry on with their day to day life without much worry.

Rasitha has been playing cricket for Bandaranayake College since he was 12 and has captained the under-13, under-15 and 1st XI teams. His first coach was late Noel Jansz, former St. Anthony’s College Wattala star player.

In the 2007-2008 school cricket season, Rasitha scored 653 runs. He is a right-hand batsman with a top score of 113 against St. Thomas College Matale. He scored six half centuries. He is a left-arm ‘leggie’. But due to shoulder injury he did not deliver a single ball this season.

Since 2003, the 20-year-old Rasitha has represented the 1st XI team.

Due to his good captaincy, Bandaranayake College entered the quarter-finals of the Lemonade Trophy Cricket Tournament 2008.

He has represented Gampaha District cricket team and has also played in the Inter-Provincial Cricket Tournaments and performed well in all age groups.

His highest score was 127 against St. Servatius College, Matara in the 2006-2007 season. Best bowling: 6 for 38 against Ibbagamuwa MMV in 2005-2006 cricket season. Rasitha has completed ‘A’ Level examination and is expected to continue studies and play cricket as well. He is coached by Kanishka Amerasinghe.