Glorious Ananda-Nalanda 94th Battle of the Maroons

The 94th ‘Battle of the Maroons’, annual cricket encounter between two leading Buddhist schools Ananda and Nalanda Colleges is scheduled to be held on March 2-3 at SSC grounds.

The ‘Battle of the Maroons’ grand cricket encounter will be held for the Late Dr. N. M. Perera Memorial Challenge Trophy this year as well.

Iruth Gimshan with 492 runs in 09 matches in this season including two fifties and a century will lead the Ananda College team in this year’s encounter.

Sajith Withanage is the captain of the Nalanda College team and he has 244 runs in 07 matches in this season including one half century. Further, he has managed to take 15 wickets and taking 05 wickets for 48 runs is his best bowling performance.

Ananda College is in the lead with 12 wins in the history of Annual Cricket Encounter. Nalanda College has won 7 matches. Although the Ananda College team won Dr. N. M. Perera Memorial Challenge Trophy in the year 2003, Nalanda College won the 92nd battle held in the year 2022 and secured the trophy.

Since the 93rd battle in 2023 ended in a draw, both teams will try to claim the trophy this time.

Cricket commentators are of the opinion that it will add unprecedented vigour to this year’s tournament.

The Ananda-Nalanda Joint Organizing Committee is organizing the competition with a more unique organizational structure this year and the Principal of Ananda College, Mr. Lal Dissanayake commented on it as follows.

“The Battle of the Maroons unfolding with the assistance of current students, academic staff, old boys and supporters, is more than just a cricket match. It symbolizes the two schools’ long-standing brotherhood”.

“The Battle of the Maroons, which brings together former Anandians and Nalandians, including excricketers who excelled in various fields locally and internationally, is a celebration that awakens memories of old boys and current students of both schools”.

Mr. Iran Champika de Silva, Principal of Nalanda College, Colombo expressed his opinion about the 94th Battle of the Maroons.

“The 94th Battle of the Maroons and the 47th One-Day encounter are annual highlights on the school calendar.

Cricket is a gentleman’s game, thus the sub-cultural traditions that are built through this will be extremely beneficial to the schools’ growth”.

“While spreading the message of brotherhood between Ananda College and Nalanda College, we know that the Battle of the Maroons will create many more players from this two schools to shine Sri Lankan cricket field as in the past and in the future as well.”

The 94th “Battle of the Maroons”, the big match is being organized by the Battle of the Maroons joint organizing committee, under the guidance of the principals of two schools.

The chairman of its sponsoring sub-committee General Kamal Gunaratne (retired), WWV, RWP, RSP, USP, ndc, psc, Mphil, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, expressed this opinion.

“Ananda-Nalanda Battle of the Maroons is being held this year with a higher level of organization than ever before. Through this, we hope to raise a huge amount of funds which is to be utilized for the development of both schools”.

“A large group of supporters more than ever are joining hands with us for this cricket encounter. It is a great strength for us. The restructured Joint Organizing Committee is organizing all these activities with great enthusiasm. Not only that, this time we are getting an immense support from the principals, academic and non-academic staff of both the schools. It is a great strength for us”.

Air Chief Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, MPhil (Def & Strat Stu), MSc (Def Stu), MSc (Def Stu) in Mt, MIM (SL), ndc, psc (Retired) Mr. expressed his views on this matter.

“The organization of the Battle of the Maroons through a Joint Organizing Committee started in 2009, however, in some years it was difficult for us to get the required amount of provisions. As a result, with the engagement and input of the principals of both schools and subject to Ministry of Education clearance, the Joint Organizing Committee was reformed and work began in a new direction.

“At this time, we have taken the appropriate measures to maximize the effectiveness of our efforts. This time, we have allocated one thousand rupees from each ticket, with the exception of those sold to the students, to fund the growth of sports at the two schools.”

Mr. Upali Dharmadasa, Co-Chairman of the Joint Organizing Committee, expressed this opinion.

“The organization of the Battle of the Maroons through a Joint Organizing Committee started in 2009.

Its purpose was to raise the funds needed for the development of both schools. At that time, there were various obstacles. However, we were not discouraged. Those days, about 3000 came to witness the big match. But this time we expect the crowd between 15000 – 16000”.

“The principals of the schools were quite supportive of that. Our primary goal is to provide significant benefits to the two schools at a reasonable expense.”

Many international legends including the captain of the 1996 World Cup winning team, Arjuna Ranatunga, Sidath Wettamuni, Marwan Athapattu, Chandika Hathurusingha, Thilan Samaraweera, Sachitra Senanayake, Dinesh Chandimal have represented Ananda College team. Further, Nalanda College has produced many international cricket players including , Sri Lanka’s first Test captain, the late Bandula Warnapura, Asanka Gurusinghe, Roshan Mahanama, Kumar Dharmasena, Mahela
Jayawardena.

These two schools have a distinct cricket heritage, having produced many of the country’s greatest cricketers.

The 94th edition of Ananda-Nalanda ‘Battle of the Maroons’ will be an unprecedented sporting
experience.