Former Sri Lanka captain Roshan Mahanama believes Nalanda’s triumph in the 92nd ‘Battle of the Maroons’ against Ananda after 69 years should serve as a stepping to further glory and pleaded that fame and fortune is not everything in life that makes a responsible person.
“I want to remind the team that won the big match that this achievement should be a stepping stone for many more victories in life that you should strive for. If you want to be successful in life you have to work hard make sacrifice and not look at short cuts for success. You must work to improving your knowledge and try to develop your skills, persevere and never give up when things are not going your way,” said Mahanama making the keynote address at a felicitation for the Nalanda College cricket team at Waters Edge, Battaramulla.
The ceremony was organised by the Nalanda Old Boys Association, Nalanda Junior Old Boys Association, Old Nalandians Sports Club and Nalanda Cricket (Past Cricketers Association of Nalanda).
Held under the patronage of Nalanda College principal Thilak Wattuhewa, five surviving members of the Nalanda team which won the match in 1953 were the guests of honour.
Nalanda captained by Dineth Samaraweera defeated arch rivals Ananda College by nine wickets at SSC in their annual ‘big match’.
“Victory comes after many struggles and countless defeats. Winning the Battle of the Maroons after 69 years proves that you need to struggle hard and taste the bitterness of defeat in order to taste the sweetness of victory,” added Wattuhewa.
Mahanama recalled how he converted failures into success through hard work and determination. “My first experience of a big match came in a loss. I still recall this very sad experience of losing the first big match I played in although we had played exceptionally during the season. Despite being unbeaten during the 1982 season and having a strong team, we still lost the big match. However, we came back strongly the next season and became the best All Island team and I won the schoolboy cricketer of the award as well. The following year I was able to break the batting record of the big match held by an Anandian. That season I was selected as the best schoolboy cricketer of the year for a second consecutive year,” said Mahanama who went on to serve as ICC (International Cricket Council) Match Referee for 12 years officiating 300 matches.
“These experiences in maroon and silver laid the foundation for the road ahead and I like to highlight the importance of never forgetting where your journey started,” said the former Nalanda captain who urged the cricketers not to compromise on honesty, integrity, values, discipline, loyalty and friend. “Fame and fortune should come last in one’s list of priority,” he added.
