Sanjeewa Mendis cricketer and coach par excellence

On Aug 16, 2021

Left hand middle order bat, left arm leg spinner, cricket captain, coach and administrator Sanjeewa Ruwakantha Mendis has brought honour and immense fame for his Alma Mater St. Anthony’s College Wattala and the motherland He was born on 22nd March 1967 and was initially admitted to Junior School Ragama.

Knowing his keenness and interest in cricket his parents decided to admit their child to St. Anthony’s College Wattala.

When he was in Grade Seven he played for the school team in the All Island Tournament and noticing his talents the then Antonian Coach Noel Jansz selected him for the under 15 cricket team and he played for two years in the Astra Margarine Trophy and after that he played for the under 17 team and after that with these performances under his belt he was an unanimous choice to the under 19 team despite being an under 17 player. Then in 1987 and 1988 he captained the first eleven team and won colours in the final year.

Then from 1987 to 1991 he played for the under 23 Bristol Trophy Tournament for the Antonians and for the Donovan Andree Trophy too. In the mean time he toured Nagpur, India with the Sri Lanka Soft Ball Cricket Team for three unofficial tests. From there he joined Ragama Cricket Club and played in the Division Three Daily News Trophy Tournament and he captained the team in his third year.

In 1994 he commenced cricket coaching at Basilica College Ragama and in 1995 they became under 13 Division Three Champions by beating formidable Royal College Colombo and by 2001 he brought under 13 and 15 teams to Division One.