Chandimal opens Indoor Cricket Stadium at Dharmasoka
I lost everything including my cricket gear bag during the Tsunami in 2004 but at that time I was determined to continue my cricket career but i will never forget my first school Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda said Sri Lanka’s former skipper wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal at the College’s newly built Indoor Stadium opening ceremony held at Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda premises yesterday. I paid my gratitude to my school Dharmasoka with an Indoor Stadium and will never forget my home town and coaches and teachers, said Chandimal.
It was a red letter day for Dharmasoka College cricketers as Chandimal who later crossed over to Ananda built an Indoor Stadium with his own money at a cost of rupees 20 million. This facility has been named Ranjith Pandithage Indoor Stadium. DIMO Chairman Ranjith Pandithage is my mentor who after i left Amanda College donated a fully furnished newly built house with a vehicle and gave me a job at DIMO and I’ll never forget him, that’s why I decided to name Dharmasoka Indoor Stadium as Ranjith Pandithage Indoor Stadium said Chandimal.
Ranjith Pandithage the Chairman of DIMO was the chief guest at the opening ceremony yesterday while distinguish old boys, present boys and cricketers of Dharmasoka, Sri Devananda and P.de S.Kularatne colleges were present while Sri Lankan players Upul Tharanga, Ramesh Mendis the two best products of Dharmasoka, Janaka Kumudu the former Sri Lanka ‘A ‘player and match referee of SLC were among the invitees while one special character Asoka Kumara the man behind the Chandimal success was invited who still continues to coach his alma mater.
Chandimal gave a very emotional speech and recalled the Tsunami incident and the Dharmasoka cricketers had to face more difficulties. I know Dharmasoka cricketers do not have a proper ground to train and there is no Indoor Stadium at Ambalangoda and the Ranjith Pandithage Indoor Stadium will provide much needed facility for all three cricketing schools Dharmasoka, Sri Devananda and P.de S.Kularatne and I wish more cricketers will come to the National team from my home town Ambalangoda.I had a dream to become National cricketer and my coach Asoka Kumara and all other coaches did a good job. Ananda my second school have more facilities and lot of old boys and past cricketers can give their support said, Dinesh Chandimal. Asoka Kumara the coach of Dinesh Chandimal said dedicated Chandimal has not forgotten his childhood days and his junior cricket career while he always get support from me even today. He chats with me and get advice and he is a good example to all other cricketers.We know Dharmasoka cricketers have more difficulties and this Indoor Stadium is a boon to young cricketers and our Old boys, present boys staff members and especially Our present principal Sanuja Jayawickrama Rt Major General Bimal Sirichandra Vidhanage who himself Old boy of Dharmasoka who is planned to make this Indoor Stadium (with floodlights and two wickets ) and former Navy Commander Admiral Piyal de Silva a distinguish old boy were present on this occasion.
Chandimal started from my own cricket Academy and he had lot of difficulties and he lost everything due to Tsunami. Ajith de Silva the former Dharmasokian also crossed over to Ananda who was away in Ambalangoda but he sent a voice message as well as former National opener Saman Jayantha who is also away in Colombo engaged at SSC matches sent a voice message to congratulate at this opening Chandimal had a chat with young school cricketers while Chandimal’s wife Ishika Jayasekera, his parents and brothers also accompanied him at the historic moment.
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