Mahela wakes up to a night of cricket

 From left: Joint head of Marketing-Battle of the Maroons Joint Committee 2026 retired General Kamal Gunaratne, Principal Nalanda College UD Iran Champika de Silva, Assistant Vice President (head of sales) Ceylon Cold Stores Sudeepa Weerasekera, Principal Ananda College DM Lal Dissanayake and Joint Chairperson Battle of the Maroons Joint Committee 2026 Mahela Jayawardena at the sponsorship launch (Pic by Kithsiri de Mel)

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana 

Former Sri Lanka cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena has realised his dream of a day-night cricket encounter between his school Nalanda College and traditional rival Ananda College who will play their limited overs game under lights at the SSC ground in Colombo on March 7.

The match follows the 96th Battle of the Maroons at the same venue from February 27 to March 1.

Jayawardena, speaking at a grand launch of the match at the Nelum Pokuna outdoor premises during the weekend said the day-night one-day match will be held dear to his heart as will it be for many Anandians and Nalandians.

“I grew up playing cricket at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) and was personally looking forward to seeing Ananda and Nalanda Colleges playing a one-day match under lights”, said Jayawardena, one of the most illustrious products to come out of Nalanda College.

“The Grand Reveal event organised to announce the 96th Battle of the Maroons to showcase the two First XI teams and to felicitate the sponsors will nudge the other schools to follow the concept,” Jayawardena further said. 

Old Nalandian Jayawardena, who is also a Joint Chairperson of the Battle of the Maroons Joint Committee 2026 profusely thanked over 40 corporate sponsors for partnering with the momentous encounter. 

The glittering event brought together members of both teams, generous big match sponsors, distinguished guests and scores of enthusiastic supporters, including schoolchildren and old boys.