Battle of the Maroons, contributes to the development of Sports at Ananda & Nalanda
Since 2008 when the Battle of the Maroons was played at the SSC Grounds for the 80th time, this friendly cricketing encounter between Sri Lanka's two leading Buddhist educational institutions has experienced a new beginning where there has been a revival of the spectator enthusiasm with the introduction of a carnival atmosphere.
Unlike in the past when Ananda or Nalanda separately played the lead role in organising this Maroons Big match in alternate years, from 2008 onwards this responsibility has been entrusted with a joint committee of past students from the two schools.
The efforts of this joint organising committee, under the leadership of Mr Upali Dharmadasa and Mr Ravi Ahangama during the 3 year term up to 2010 ( 82nd Maroons Battle) has seen a huge enthusiasm among the past students in witnessing it and being a part of this occasion - as new features have been introduced to this cricket fiesta each succeeding year.
The first 3 years of the Joint Organising Committee saw a total Rs 4.45 million being donated to each school out of the revenue generated from the match.
Mr Nishantha Ranatunga and Mr Sidath Waidyasekera were unanimously appointed to head this joint organising committee last year (2012) and the 83rd Maroons Encounter saw a crowd of 11,000 gathering at the SSC, the biggest so far in this series.
That enabled the joint organising committee to allocate Rs 2.5 million to each school, out of the profits of the 83rd Maroons Battle and part payments of same were presented to the two Principals at a simple ceremony held at Ananda College.
