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Heavy voting takes Royal skipper Amarasuriya to top spot

Thushan and Kasun are Observer-Bata Most Popular Schoolboys Cricketers

Royal skipper Thushan Amarasuriya and Kasun Bulathsinghala of Maris Stella are the Observer-Bata Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketers of the Year for 1999. Amarasuriya won the All-Island Contest with a total of 15,504 votes, having received 10,073 votes on the final coupon - No. 12.

Amarasuriya was lying second in the penultimate count - No. 11 with 5,431 votes, while Anandian Eashan Abeysinghe was in the lead with 5,628 votes.

There was heavy voting for both Thushan Amarasuriya and Eashan Abeysinghe in the final week. However, there was a 'flood' of votes for Amarasuriya, while Eashan Abeysinghe received 6,777 votes. So, Amarasuriya who was only 197 votes behind on coupon number 11, had no difficulty in coming on top.

In third place was D. S. Senanayake College's Muditha Maduwantha who finally polled 8,020 votes. He had 5,219 votes after the count on coupon Number 11.

Amarasuriya had a successful season this year, scoring over 850 runs, which included nine half-centuries. His best innings was against Nalanda in which match he got 84.

Royal lost the 'Big Match' against S. Thomas', but Thushan got 72 and 20. However, the Royalists made amends in the Mustang Trophy and won that match and Amarasuriya was picked as the 'Man of the Match'.

Maris Stella's Kasun Bulathsinghala won by a majority of 2,138 votes over Thushara Madanayake of Kingswood in the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. Bulathsinghala received 9,820 votes, while Madanayake received 7,682 votes in coming second.

Kasun Bulathsinghala had 3,538 votes on count number 11, while Thushara Madanayake was third with 1,952 votes, but polled 5,730 votes in the final week's voting to take the second spot. Ishan Mutaliph who was second on coupon number 11, finally came third with 2,476 votes.

The winner and the runner-up in each of the contests will receive awards at the main awards show to be held later this year.

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

Coupon No. 12 (final)

1. Thushan Amarasuriya (Royal) 			 15,504
2. Eashan Abeysinghe (Ananda)  			 14,305
3. Muditha Maduwantha (DSSC)   			 8,020
4. Shanaka Caldera (STCML)     			 459
5. Upeka Fernando (STCML)      			 396
6. Kasun Jayaratne (SACK)      			 300
7. Johannes Jayasuriya (SJC)   			 251
8. Gihan Fernando (STCML)      			 173
9. Naren Ratwatte (STCML)      			 128
10. A. Riyaz (Wesley)          			 113

Weekly readers 1st prize of Rs. 500 to: C. Jacotine, 20, Melder Place, Nugegoda.

Readers 2nd prize of Rs. 300 to: Sisira Perera, 20, Bogahahena Road, Battaramulla.

Others who received votes are:

Roshan de Silva (St. Joseph's College)
Tharinda Wickremasinghe (Thurstan)
Asanka Marapona (Dharmaraja)
Dhammika Premadasa (Thurstan)
Hasantha Fernando (Prince of Wales)
Thilina Kandambi (Ananda)
Lakshan Fernando (Royal)
Ian Daniels (St. Joseph's)
Suranga Morathota (Trinity)
A. S. Pinnaduwa (St. Anthony's Katugastota)
Jerome Fernando (St. Peter's)
S. D. Wijesooriya (St. Anthony's Katugastota)
Kaushalya Weeraratne (Trinity)
Samantha Lorenzohewa (Richmond)
Jehan Mubarak (Royal)
Jithendra Perera (Ananda)
Pubudu Seneviratne (Dharmaraja)
Prasanna Jayawardena (St. Sebastian's)
Nalaka de Silva (Thurstan)
Manoj Mendis (St. Sebastian's)
I. Embuldeniya (Trinity)
Malinda Thotiwilage (Royal)
K. Rodrigo (Isipatana)

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year

Coupon No. 12 (final)

1. Kasun Bulathsinghala (Maris Stella)     	 9,820
2. Thusara Madanayake (Kingswood)          	 7,682
3. Ishan Mutaliph (Maris Stella)           	 2,476
4. Manjula Priyantha (Lumbini MV)          	 188
5. Dushantha Ranatunga (Raddoluwa MV)      	 153
6. Mevan Fernando (Maris Stella)           	 83
7. Chanaka Wijesinghe (St. Sylvester's)    	 71
8. D. M. Sampath (Kalutara MV)             	 69
9. Umal Trandiba (St. Aloysius, Galle)     	 62
10. S. Mendis (St. Anne's Kurunegala)      	 40

Weekly readers 1st prize of Rs. 500 to: N. Thenuwara, 17/2, 4th Lane, Uyana, Moratuwa.

Others who received votes are:

D. Samaraweera (Gurukula MV)
Subodha Jayawardena (St. Anne's Kurunegala)
L. Ekanayake (Kingswood)
Buddika Fernando (Maris Stella)
Namal Pushpakumara (Kingswood)
Lakmal Fernando (Maris Stella)
Malith Mallawarachchi (Kingswood)
Charitha Buddika (St. John's Panadura)
S. Kumara (Gurutalawa MV)
Nadun Nanayakkara (St. Aloysius Galle)
Ranga Dissanayake (St. Sylvester's)
Sarath Gunaratne (Ginigathena MMV)
D. Senanayake (St. Mary's Kegalle)
Susantha Rupasinghe (Ginigathena MMV)
Susitha Rangana (Ginigathhena MMV)