Raj, venue media manager for WC games at Pallekelle

S M Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Former St Anthony’s College and Combined Colleges Cricketer C P P Raj has been appointed as the venue media manager for the three World Cup cricket matches to be played at Pallekelle later this month.

Raj popularly known as ‘CPP’ was a fine top order batsman who played for the Antonians and scored heavily for the school in the seventies. His performances brought him a place in the Sri Lanka schools team. A very hard hitting bat who was a treat to watch.

Having played club cricket on leaving school he took wings to the Gulf States where he continued his cricket in a big way and was reputed for big hitting.

In one of the grounds, his big hits have been marked on the spot where the ball landed.

On his return to country he served the glamour. Kandy sports club in many capacities including the Singer Sri Lankan International Rugby Sevens.

A proprietory planter by profession and is also an entrepreneur having a livestock farm and a drinking water bottling facility.

Two years ago he took up position as the provincial manager of the Kandurata Cricket Center and the Pallekelle Cricket Stadium came under his purview.

He did a tremendous amount of work often working late into the night to put things in the right places when steps were taken to develop this stadium under the direction of SLC Chairman D S de Silva and secretary Nishantha Ranatunga and others.

This was the time this stadium was abandoned for a few years and giant Mimosa Pudica (Touch me not) had invaded the area.

Raj did an excellent job under the guidance of Bandula Warnapura of SLC at that time.