Legendary cricketer Kumar Sangakkara has extended his support to the rising cricket talents of Jaffna by donating cricket gear to Ranjithkumar Newton, K. Mathulan, V. Akash and other players from Dambulla Junior team.
This generous gesture follows a request by Dambulla region youth selection coordinator and senior journalist Ranjan Paranawithana. Sangakkara’s timely contribution has significantly bolstered these players’ journey to success, with Newton and Mathulan now representing Sri Lanka Under-19 in the Asia Cup and Akash joining the Under-17 squad for the Bangladesh series.
- Message from Senior Journalist Ranjan Paranawithana
**Exciting News for Jaffna Cricket!** 🏏
Ranjithkumar Newton, a left-arm fast bowler from Jaffna Central College, K. Mathulan, a right-arm slinger from St. John’s College, and V. Akash, a right-arm leg spinner from Hartley College, Point Pedro, have achieved a remarkable milestone. Newton and Mathulan have been selected for the Sri Lanka Under-19 team to compete in the Asia Cup, while Akash will represent the Sri Lanka Under-17 team in the series against Bangladesh.
This marks the first time that three players from Jaffna have been selected to represent Sri Lanka’s national youth teams—a historic achievement for the region. A few years ago, Wiyaskanth also had the honor of playing for the youth team, setting a precedent for this success.
It’s truly inspiring to see these talented players progress from the Dambulla team, where they showcased their skills at the super provincial level, to earning a place on the national stage.
A heartfelt thank you to Kumar Sangakkara for generously donating cricket gear to these three young talents and other Dambulla players from the UK just a few weeks ago, following my request. Your support has made a significant impact!