This augurs well for the future of the game in the hill capital which not many years ago did not have a single team from the hill capital participating in the Division III tournament.
The Gospel of cricket has spread far and wide in the back woods of the Kandy District and the clubs have been inspired by the excellent showing of World Cup champions Sri Lanka. What is most astonishing is the fact that some clubs have entered from very remote areas where there is no school playing hard ball cricket to serve as a nursery for the clubs. Most of the softball clubs have graduated to playing hard ball cricket with the promotion work done by the Kandy District Cricket Association (KDCA).
Some of the clubs which will be making their maiden appearance this year are Vinco SC, Udatalawinna, National Cavaliers Club, Katugastota, Young Stars SC, Galhinna, Digana CC, Digana, Galagedera Youths SC, Remedian SC, Gampola, Central Hills SC, Kandy, Rangers SC, Gampola and Shakthi SC, Gampola. A total of six clubs have entered from Gampola where is hardly any senior school cricket being played, Honorary Secretary of the KDCA Mr. Mike Johnson said there would have been five more clubs in this tournament had Kegalle Clubs not opted to participate in another segment at the last minute. It must be said that Mike Johnson is doing a tremendous job as Secretary having organised several tournament including the all island inter district under-15 tournament since ass uming office early this year.
The clubs have been group as follows:
Group A: Saracens CC, Gampola Youths CC, Gampola A and CC, Sutherland SC, Kadugannawa, National Cavaliers club, Katugastota, Ekamuthu SC, Muruthalawa.
Group B: Vinco SC, Udatalawinna, Madawala United SC, Old Trinitians SC, Old Anthonians SC, Cosbees SC, Katugastota, Gampola CC, Young stars SC, Galhinna.
Group C: Digana CC, Galagedera Youth CC, Orient SC, Kandy, Remedians SC, Gampola, University of Peradeniya, Liverpool SC, Kandy, Kandy Youths CC.
Group D: Old Rajans SC, Galagedera CC, Central Hills SC, Kandy, Old Sylvestrians SC, Rangers SC, Gampola, Shakthi SC, Gampola.
Sanath with Pepsi
Pepsi Cola International (India) will enter into a 3-year sponsorship agreement with Sanath Jayasuriya for exclusive promotional rights of its products internationally and particularly in the South Asian region.
Sanath will be the first Sri Lankan sportsman to be offered sponsorship of this nature by an overseas multinational company.
The interest shown by this giant Cola manufacturer is due to the immense popularity Sanath has received and for being rated world's no. 1 cricketer today.
Recently Pepsi Co (New York) International also signed a global deal with England and Wales Cricket Board to become a global partner of the ICC Cricket World Cup in May and June 1999.