CELEBRATING 129 YEARS

 129

CELEBRATING

ALEGACY OF YEARS

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

BENS-WESLEY

CRICKET ENCOUNTER

2025

Press Conference 12th March 2025 @ 6.00pm at the Exel World , Colombo 10 , Sri Lanka .

St. Benedict's College and Wesley College competes for

Cartman Cup and Luke Shieid

As they celebrate their 129 yoar old Cricketing legacy!

Match Made in Heaven

St. Benedic's College, Colombo and Wesley College, Colombo announzed the ir arrangements

for their annual 1 XI two day Cricket Encounter for Cartman Cup and 50 over encounter for Luke

Shield to be played between both schools in 2025. In calebrating 129 year's of cricketing legacy

since teams first met on a cricket pitch back in 1896, both schools have made elaborate plans to

host this year's One Day encounter al SSC and the two day encOunler at P. Sara Oval. Further

both institutions will join hands to celebrate 160h Anniversary of St. Benedict's College, which

falls this year. Last year, both schools celebrated Wesley's sesquicentennial which coincided with

the Big Two Day Encourter. This year the one-day encounter for the Luke Shield will be played

ahead, after Bens-VWesey Committee was forced to push back the original dates set far the twO

day encounter due to Ordinary Level Examinatons being scheduled for March 2025. Therefcre,

Luke Shield will go ahead as scheduled on the 29h of March at the S.S.C, while the two-day

encounter for the Cartman Cup will he played on the 31st March and 01s of Apil at P.

Saravanamutiu Sladium (P. Sara Oval). Both matches will be continued to be organised and

hosted by the Bens-Wesley Committee as they've manaçed snce 2021 alcng with the patronaga

of both schools.

Last year, St. Benedicte College led by Sharujan Shanmuganathan had the hour of being the first

recipient of the Rev. James Cartrnan Cup as they beat Weskey College by 46 rurs at the P. Sara

Stadium. The first winner be:ween two sides since the trophy was introduced in 2021. In February

2021, Director of St. Benedict's College Dr Brother Pubudu Rajapaksha and Principal of Wesley

College Mr. Avanka Fernando signed a histcric Memorandum of Understarcing to host the

Annual Bens-Wesley 1" Cricket Encounter with a purpose, for a cause and for the future whilst

Celehrating the landmark 125 years nf Bens-VWesley cricketing lagacy and bringing together hoth

Benedictine and Wesleyite fraternities. The MOU paved the way for past cricketers and alumni of

St. Benedict's Ccllege and Wesley College to comA together and form the Rens-Wesley

Committee under the stewardship of both principals and to organize the annual cricketing

encounters. This was fcllowed by the introduction of the Cartman Cup in memory of former

Principal of Wesley College Rev. James Cartman for the two day encounter which was played on

24h and 26 April 2021 at SL. Benedict's College Grcunds which incdentaly vas corsidered

among the ore of the very fow cricket big matches played that year amidst the Covid pandəmic

restrictions and without any spectators, followed by the 2022 encounter played vith Imied

spectator participation at Wesley College Grouncs on whle the country was stricken with

economic crisis and the 2023 encounte which was played with better spectator participation with

the couniry relaxirg if's restrictons at P. Sara Cval The 2024 encounter witnesserda capacity

crowc participation which were treated to an exciting game at the P. Sara Ovel where the

pendulum swung both ways before Benedictnes settled with the vin. It must be noted that in spite

of draws in the previous throo years, the match lived up to its oxpectatiɔns as both schocls played

some entertaining cricket though none could lift until Sharujan Iifted the majestic Trophy in 2024.

which is on offer for an outright win

The cne-day enccunter played for Luke Shield in memory of formər Director of S:. Benedict's

College Brother Luke Gregary was to be held in 2021 but could nct be held due lo the kockoown

in Colombo. However, both schopls hosted the inaugural encounter in April 2022 at P.

Saravanamuttu Stadium (P. Sara Dval), which St. Benedict's College managed to win.

Benadictinas follawed this by winning the 2023 encounter at S.SC and 2024 ancoOuntar at F

Saravanamuttu Stadium (P. Sara Oval), The key true highlight of last four years Bens-Wesley

encounter was the donation made by both schools, together with the sponsors. towards a

charitable cause. In 2022 it was a donation made towards the Diyagala Boys' Town, and in 2023

it was a donation made to a project initiated by Wesley Ccllege. celebrating their sesquicentennial

year by supporting 150 rural schocls. Folcwed by 2024 donation gcing into De La Salle College

Mutuwal.

This year St. Benecit's Colege 1 Xl is ked by Mast. Shanmuçanathan 3harujan And Wesley

College 1s Xl is lad by Mast. Anuga Pahansara. The .Joint Committee under the gucance of Rro.

Dr. Pubudu Rajapaksha Director of St. Denedic's College and Mr. Avanka Fernando Principa of

Wesley College have made arrangements for cONds to be entertained at both the two-day

Cartman Cup enccunter and the one-dey Luke Shield encounter. ln add tion to this, both matches

will be telecast live through Papare.Com and The Papare. As this encounter celebrates the

sporting historios of the two schools and their charod bonds of brotherhood, the Bens Wecloy

Cornrnittee, toqether wih the two schools expects students both past and presert to witness this

encounter, or through the live telecast so that they can be a part of this calebratiorn fron arywhere

in the world!

Other information

Press Conference held on the 12 of March 2025 at EKcel World-Park Premier

Luke Shield (One day) will be olayed at SCC an the 29h of March 2025.

► Cartman Cup (Two Day) ) will be played al P. Sara Oval on the 30hof March and 1 of

April 2025.

► Chief guests for the 2-day Cartman Cun -

From Bons side Mr. Vivian Saverimuttupile Captained in 1972 and M. Lalith Po reraCaptained

in 1973

From Wesley College Nr. Dayalan Selamuttu Captainad in 1974 and Mr. K Dayaparan Captaired

in 1975

Seated at the head table Lef: to Right-

Mast. Anuga Pahansara Captain Wesey College Mr. Ryan Kern Joint Secretary Wesley Colege,

Mr. Dharshana Lyanage Joint President Wesley College, Mı. Avanka Fernanco Principal Wesley

College, Rev Bro Niran Perera Acting Princpal St. Benedict's Colege. Mr. Shanthilal Sitva Joint

President St. Benedict's College, Mı. Priyal Perera Joint Secretary St. Benedict's College,

NMaster Shanmuganathan Sharujan Captain St. Benedict's Colege.