Chandimal donates Rs. 20 m to his hometown

Dinesh Chandimal plays a stroke at the Indoor Cricket Stadium

 Dimo Group Chairman Ranjith Pandithage cuts the ribbon to declare open the Indoor Cricket Stadium along with Dinesh Chandimal

• Builds Indoor Cricket Stadium for schools in Ambalangoda

Former Sri Lanka Captain and current player Dinesh Chandimal has donated an Indoor Cricket Stadium to his alma mater Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda with his personal expenses.

The donation was made to the children of the Ambalangoda area on World Children’s Day which fell yesterday.

Named the Ranjith Pandithage Indoor Cricket Stadium it was built on the premises of Dharmasoka College at a cost of Rs. 20 million under the guidance of the Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda Principal Sanuja Jayawickrama.

The children of other schools in Ambalangoda like Devananda Vidyalaya and Kularatne Vidyalaya will also have the opportunity to practise at this indoor cricket stadium.

The stadium can be used for day and night training. It was named after Dimo Group Chairman Ranjith Pandithage as an act of gratitude because he dedicated himself to Chandimal’s development as a cricketer from his playing days at Ananda College, Colombo till he succeeded in becoming a player in the national cricket team. Yesterday was also Pandithage’s birthday.

With the full blessings of the Commander of the Army, the labour work was done by the Sri Lanka Army under the plan and guidance of (Retired) Major General Bimal Vidanage. It was the strong desire of Chandimal›s first Coach, Ashoka Kumara, that the construction should take place.

Chandimal played for Dharmasoka College Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 teams and in college cricket matches in 2004 and 2005.

His ultimate wish is to see someone from his home town representing the national team of Sri Lanka one day.