Mathews also bagged two other awards in a glittering ceremony graced by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram who was the chief guest – the All-rounder of the Year for both Test and One-Day Internationals.

The awards which featured the performances of Sri Lanka’s cricketers for 2015 saw Dilshan and fast bowler Lasith Malinga bag two awards apiece.

Dilshan also won the T20 Batsman of the Year while Malinga picked up the Bowler of the Year award for both categories ODI and T20.

Wasim who played in 19 Tests and 59 ODIs against Sri Lanka between 1985 and 2002 recalled many memories of the matches between the two countries since his first visit to the country with Imran Khan’s Pakistan side in 1985.

“We had many major battles on and off the field, but lots of them off the field. Sri Lanka is a memorable place for me. It’s a ‘Heaven on Earth’ and we call it the Pearl Island,” said Wasim.

“What I like about the country is the positive energy that generates from the people. Everyone in Sri Lanka is happy and with a smile on their face. When I walk on the road I feel safe and it’s like my second home. People smile and say hello and some want to take selfies,” he said.

Wasim said his love for the country has made him an unofficial ambassador of Sri Lanka and wherever he went he always told people that Sri Lanka was one country they should not miss visiting.

Speaking of the country’s cricket Wasim said, “Sri Lanka played cricket in the real spirit. They are quite calm but deadly.”

Wasim praised the school system in Sri Lanka and said that it was “an unmatchable school cricket structure” that has helped the country produce so many great cricketers like Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Chaminda Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muthiah Muralitharan.

Wasim thanked Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala for inviting him to the awards presentation and said, “I am always available for Sri Lanka Cricket in any capacity. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are brotherly countries and one should help each other.”

Winning four gold medals, the hosts clinched the championship producing Best Boxer KJ Fernanando, who beat GCM Amarasinghe of Vidyartha College Kandy in under 17-18 flyweight category. Amarasinghe went down fighting after a good battle to win the Best Loser Trophy.

Vidyartha College, Kandy became the runners-up, while Royal College Colombo secured the third place. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera graced occasion as the chief guest and.

The Champion Mahanama College Boxing Team with Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Sri Lanka Boxing Association Assistant Treasurer cum Schools Boxing Association Technical Advisor Ruwan Keragala.

Final results:

Champion Team and Winners of LV Jayaweera Memorial Cup 2016: Mahanama College Colombo

Runners-up: Vidyartha College, Kandy

Third Place: Royal College, Colombo.

Best Boxer: KJ Fernando (Mahanama College, Colombo)

Best Loser: GCM Amarasinghe (Vidyartha College, Kandy)

Age 15-16 years and 50-52kg (Junior): MPMP Silva (Mahanama College, Colombo) beat TWH Madushanka (Yatihena MV, Biyagama) 3-0

Age 17-18 years and 52-56kg (Youth): M Sarmmilan (Mulaitivu MV) beat KMRH Wijebandara (Trinity College, Kandy) 3-0

Age 15-16 years and 46-48kg (Junior): U Dhananjaya (Royal College, Colombo) beat GWSL Silva (Deerananda MV, Pilimathalawa)

Age 17-18 years and 60-64kg (Youth): MM Hinduranga (Mahanama College, Colombo) beat MMJD Wisvajith (Dharmaraja College, Kandy) TKO

Age 17-18 years and 56-60kg (Youth): GPR Perera (Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Gampaha) beat WMKK Fonseka (Mahanama MV, Kandy) TKO

Age 17-18 years and 49-52kg (Youth): KJ Fernando (Mahanama College, Colombo) beat GCM Amarasinghe (Vidyartha College) 3-0

Age 17-18 years and 46-49kg (Youth): T Devendran (St Sylvester’s College, Kandy) beat MSB Arroz (Carey College, Colombo) TKO

Age 15-16 years and 52-54kg (Junior): APN Kularatne (Deerananda MV, Pilimathalawa) beat KMS Christianz (St John’s College, Nugegoda) 2-1

Age 15-16 years and 48-50kg (Junior): MAM Aseen (Royal College, Colombo) beat PBVK Sandaruwan (Mayurapada MV, Pilimathalawa) 3-0

Age 15-16 years and 44-46kg (Junior): TS Vithanage (Mahanama College, Colombo) beat AMS Gamage (Gamini, Ingiriya) 3-0

Age 13-14 years and 43-35 kg (Schoolboy): DMKGRV Kapukotuwa (Pallebowela MV, Hanguranketha) beat ES Weerasinghe (Gamini Ingiriya) 2-1

Age 13-14 years and 41-43kg (Schoolboy): OTB Kiridena (Trinity College, Kandy) beat BTB Dissanayake (Deerananda MV, Pilimathalawa) 3-0

Age 13-14 years and 39-41 kgs (Schoolboy): SR Gallage (Vidyarathna, Horana) beat RPR Kaumal (Gamini Ingiriya)

Age 13-14 years and 37-39kg (Schoolboy): GGT Madushan (Nalanda College, Colombo) 2-1

Age 13-14 years and 35-37kg (Schoolboy): SSB Weerakoon (Rajasinghe, Panvila) beat GKPU Mihiran (Vidyarathana, Horana) 2-1

Age 13-14 years and 33-35 kg (Schoolboy): BGD Sandaruwan (Deerananda MV, Pilimathalawa) beat RGDN Kumaratunga (Vidyartha College, Kandy) 2-1.

Mahanama College Colombo and Deerananda Maha Vidyalaya Pilimathalawa leading from the front from 125 schools participated in this year’s tournament.

Two Kandy schools, Vidyarta College and Trinity College are also among the top contenders in the finals scheduled from 2.30pm today. The organizers, Sri Lanka Schools Boxing Association and Mahanama College Old Boys Association have invited Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera as the chief guest of the award ceremony.

Advani has achieved a hat-trick of hat-tricks in billiards, holding the World, Asian, and Indian National Championship titles simultaneously in three different years: 2005, 2008 and 2012. He became a snooker professional only in 2012.

The Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) has conferred the honor of holding these two prestigious international events to the Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka (BSASL), the local governing body of cue sport based on the successful hosting of the World Billiard Championship in 1979. Sri Lanka also produced a world champion in billiards when M.J.M. Lafir won the world title in 1973 to become the first Sri Lankan to do so in any sport.

The two regional international events will attract players from about 20 countries and the U-21 snooker event will mainly focus on local youngsters where eight top players will be given the opportunity to take part.

BS ASL president Zuraish Hashim speaking at the press briefing. PicPankaj ture by Wimal Karunathileka

The Sri Lanka team is captained by 18-time National Billiards Champion K.H. Sirisoma and he will have another six to eight local players to battle it out for the Asian billiards crown. India will be the biggest challenge for both U-21 snooker and billiards championship, but Sri Lankans will have the home advantage to compete under familiar conditions. Sri Lanka’s most experienced international referee Ameer Mukhtar will be the chief referee for the championship.

BSASL president Zuraish Hashim said that it’s a great privilege to host these two important events in Sri Lanka and it is a clear indication of the faith the ACBS has bestowed on them.

“We also received a good response from the sponsors and are ready to conduct the events to the highest standard. I must mention the great support given by the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera. We are importing 10 new tables for these two events and five of them are sponsored by the Sports Ministry. The Sports Minister has also assisted in the renovation work of our BSASL headquarters at Sugathadasa Sports Hotel and promised to support the development of the cue sport,” Hashim said.

According to Hashim, attractive cash awards will be on offer for the usual international standards in the U-21 snooker championship where the quarterfinalists will be entitled to cash awards for the highest break (above point 1000).

“Cue sport is gaining popularity in Sri Lanka rapidly and many youngsters are stepping into it. As the governing body of the sport we conduct training for a set of youngsters on a daily basis and we are privileged to have 18-time world champion Mike Russell as an expert coach to these lads. We are very confident that these players will mould themselves into international players of repute very soon. Hosting this kind of international events will help popularize Sri Lanka as a sporting destination,” the BSASL president said.

“Around 12 percent of the school children in Sri Lanka suffer from diabetes and several non communicable diseases which could lead to a huge problem in the future,” said Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera at a media briefing for heads of media at the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media yesterday.

“According to World Health Organization statistics 18 percent women and 31 percent men from Sri Lankan population are prone to non communicable diseases especially diabetes,”the Minister said.

The programme will be focused on citizens in state organizations, students, youth and women’s affairs, health and indigenous medicine sectors, security services, private entrepreneurships, sports associations, federations, organizations and general public.

The fitness programmes will start at 7.00 am each day. President Maitripala Sirisena and other parliamentarians are also due to take part.

The Minister emphasized that physical fitness activities in schools will be made compulsory and every child should engage in at least one sport. “Children who engaged in sports should be given extra marks in term tests,” the Minister said.

He said he hoped to implement a scheme in collaboration with the Ministry of Education where extra marks will be given in term tests as well as Ordinary Level and Advanced Level exams.

He also stressed that he will be working on re-organizing the Sports Societies in the Grama Sevaka areas around the country.

The Minister also emphasized that those who engaged in sports activities should be given priority when recruiting for jobs.

The Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Media Gayantha Karunatilleke said this National Programme will not be limited to Colombo but expanded to all areas of the country. “The President has given his fullest support to this programme,” he said.

Deputy Sports Minister H.M.M.Harees, Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Karunaratne Paranavithana, secretaries of the Ministries and other officials were also present at the occasion.