Janakanthi Mala outstanding athlete and women’s cricketer

On Jul 20, 2021

Cricketer athlete and cricket coach Agostinnga Dona Janakanthi Mala has brought honour and immense glory to Piliyandala Primary School, Dharmaraja Maha Vidyalaya Mampe Piliyandala and her motherland.

Her first school was Piliyandala Junior School which she joined in 1974. She commenced athletics when she was in grade three but her liking was for cricket. In her first year at the school sports meet she did 50 and 75 metres and came first and in the following two years too she came first but she did not take part in the Divisional Meets.

Then in 1979 she was drafted to Dharmaraja Vidyalaya Mampe Piliyandala and continued doing athletics up to ‘A’ Levels and she was the athletic champion in all these age groups and games captain. From there she joined National Youth Services. In 1990 she joined youth services society Maharagama and went for Cricket practices under Mr.Ravindra and Stanley Kuruppu and initially they made a tour to Chennai India and played for Varda Tournament and four teams participated and they were the Runners up and she got the Best Bowlers Prize and then in 1996 she joined Nomads Sports Club and came under Jayalath Aponsu and commenced training with the hardball and she was there for three years.

Then she joined Colombo Ladies Club and came under M.Premarathne and Dooland.Buultjens and she was there for three years. Then she joined Colts Cricket Club and they won the Coca Cola Tournament.

Then she joined young women cricket club at Shalika Grounds and the coach was Mr.Ravindra and she was there for four years and in 2000 she was selected for the Indian Tour of Sri Lanka and followed by the sixth World Cup in New Zealand and Guy de Alwis was the coach.

Then in 2004 when Indian team arrived here they were the Runners up and Kosal Kuruppuarachchi was the coach and in 2005 world cup Nihal.Kodithuwakku was coach and in 2006 she joined Chilaw Marians and they were the champions in that year.

When Pakistan lasses toured here she carried away the Best Bowlers Prize with 4 wickets for 3 runs in eight overs. Then Indian ‘A’ team visited here and played against Sri Lanka ‘A’ and she played in that match too and she toured Pakistan for the Asia Cup and Carlton.

Bernadus was the coach and in 2007 too she participated for the Indian Tour and 2008 for the Asia Cup and Chitral Mendis was the coach. Her last game was in 2005 for the Asia Cup. Once again in 2009 she played for Chilaw Marians and in 2010 for Palinka Sports Club and from 2012 she played for Colts and in 2016 she was awarded the Best Bowlers Prize by Dialog.

After retiring from the game she took up to coaching and presently she is coaching at Gothomi Balika Borella and Piliyandala Town Cricket Club Cricket Academy under Sriyan Chaminda.who has a helped her in many ways.