MDCA felicitates Matara’s top cricket umpire Ruchira Palliyaguru

Text and pix by P.D. De Silva

The Matara District Cricket Association (MDCA) and the organising committee of the MSL T20 cricket tournament presented former St. Servatius College and Matara Sports Club cricketer and present ICC panel umpire Ruchira Palliyaguru with a felicitation plaque at the opening ceremony of the MSL T20  last Wednesday. State Minister of Enterprise Development and President of the MDCA Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena presented the plaque.

“Be determined and never give up on your dream,” said Ruchira addressing the players of the 12 teams competing in this year’s MSL T20 tournament. “It was my dream to play international cricket which never materialised but I did not give up on my dream and worked hard to reach the ICC Panel of Umpires which enabled me to officiate at an international game. Although I was not born in Matara I have inherited the grit and determination which is an inherent quality of the people of Matara.”

“There are times we unwittingly make mistakes in the first or second balls of an international game but this grit has helped me hold my head and perform well in the rest of the game. So I expect all of you to pursue your dream with grit and determination which is inherent to the people of Matara,” he added.