Janitha Shehan the athlete turned cricketer

Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya First Eleven Cricket Pool 2021/22. Seated L/R –Neluka Heshan (Vice Captain) ,Kaveesha Nadun(Asst. Coach), M Marasinghe(MIC),Rasika Dinesh(Head Coach),Buddhi Prasanna(Asst. Coach), Sithija Chamod (Captain) Back Row Standing L/R – Shaheen Avishka, Thathsara Eshan,Narada Kanchana,Tharusha Dilsara,Janitha Shehan,Hiruna Fernando, Yuwaneth Madushka, Mohamed Murshad,Bimsara Eshan,Poorna Kalhara,Tharindu Madhuranga,Denura Dimansith (Picture by Dilwin Mendis Moratuwa Sports Special Correspondent). 

Fourth year player, all round cricketer, top order right hand batsman and right arm medium pace bowler and safe fielder, member of the Sri Lanka Schools Under 15 Squad for the tour of Malaysia in 2018 and Champion Athlete Hewapathirana Janitha Shehan Leelarathne has brought honour and glory for his two schools Bollagala Maha Vidyalaya and Gurukula Vidyalaya Kelaniya with his deeds in the fields of sports.

Janitha who hails from Kahawatte, Nivithigala was born on 11th February 2004 and initially admitted to Maha Vidyalaya Bollagala, Kelaniya when Mrs. Geetha was at the helm of the school in 2010 and his first class teacher was Mrs. Somalatha. He took part for the School Inter House Sports Meet at the under 14 age group and came second in 100, 200 and long jump events and

in the following year as an under 16 competitor he became the school Junior Athletic Champion by sweeping the board in 100, 200 and long jump. But he did not go further In the mean time his parents Mahinda Srilal Leelaratne and Mrs. Dhammika Arunashanthi nothing his forte is cricket he was admitted to N. C. Cricket Academy Kelaniya and he came under Nishantha Edirisuriya and in 2017 he was drafted to Kelaniya Youth Academy and came under Lal Senaratne and Rasika Dinesh.

Then in 2018 he joined Gurukula Vidyalaya and in the same year he walked into the under 15 team with ease and scored 479 runs with a century and four fifties and claimed 22 scalps with one five wicket haul and played for the Prima Cup for Gampaha Zone Two and for the Western Province North Outer and he was a unanimous choice for the under 15 squad for the tour of Malaysia and the tour was cancelled at the 11th hour due to Corona. His first year in under 17 was in 2021 and the tournament was postponed and in 2022 he captained the team and in four outings he scored 202 runs with a 50 and claimed 13 wickets.

Then as an under 15 player with his past performance under his belt he walked into the first eleven team in 2018 and scored 402 runs with two fifties and grabbed 15 wickets and in the following year in five limited over matches he scored 104 runs and bagged 12 wickets and in 2021/22 season in five limited over matches he collected 140 runs and captured 9 wickets and in

the mean time he passed the G. C. E. Ordinary Level Examination with flying colours obtaining 9 As and presently he is in Grade 12 Commerce Stream. he was a member of the team in 2018 and when they beat mighty Thomians in quarter finals he was a member of the team but could not play the Semi Finals due to Corona.

He was appointed as the Captain of the first eleven team for 2022/23 cricket season by their newly appointed former Cambrian Principal Kusala Fernando with the recommendations of the Head Coach Rasika Dinesh, MIC Mr. Marasinghe and the Prefect of Games M. Nalin. In the mean time Sri Lanka Cricket has provided Five Side Turf Wickets to the school and the work is underway.