Amita's contribution to NZ cricket recognized

The prestigious 'Auckland Cricket Award 2013' of Auckland Cricket Association in New Zealand was recently awarded to Amita Weerakoon during a ceremony at Eden Park, Auckland, Nez Zealand.

Weerakoon is the first ever Sri Lankan to have received this monumental award that recognizes his unswerving commitment to promote cricket in New Zealand. Gary Troup, New Zealand's famed cricketer and the former President of the Auckland Cricket Association (ACA) as the chief guest in the award ceremony gave away the symbol of recognition to him.

Weerakoon has been the coach for New Zealand's Sri Lankan Cricket Club (SLCC), Kumeu Cricket Club (KCC) and North Harbour Cricket Club (NHCC) since 1990. Five more special awards were awarded during the same occasion in recognition of different contributory roles to cricket.

Best Junior Cricket Initiative 2013, Best Youth Cricket Initiative 2013, Best Club Cricket Initiative 2013, Best Women Cricket Initiative 2013 and Services to Cricket Award 2013 were the other five awards delivered during that ceremony in Auckland.

Weerakoon currently serving as the Auckland Branch Manager of Whitcoulls in New Zealand was recently appointed as a business mentor by the New Zealand Cricket Players Association for New Zealand Black Caps and New Zealand provincial players.

Amita, a past product of Thurstan College, Colombo has represented college cricket in the 1st XI cricket team in 1980s and played for Nomads CC, Catamarans CC, Borah CC and Liberty CC in Sri Lanka during 1980s. He is the son of Gertrude Weerakoon (nee Delgoda) and late Richard Weerakoon of Sri Lanka Air Force and the husband of Jodi Weerakoon.