The wait is over and what a Final it was at Thurstan College Grounds! Devapathiraja College, Rathgama, stunned the Colombo cricketing circuit by clinching the U17 Division 1 Championship 2025 with a nail-biting 12-run victory over Mahanama College, Colombo.
Captain Arosha led from the front with a superb 75 runs, setting the stage for his side before his bowling unit tore through the Mahanama line-up. In a breathtaking collapse, Mahanama lost 7 wickets for just 29 runs, handing Devapathiraja a well-deserved and historic win. It was a day of thrilling cricket, fighting spirit and true champions’ hearts.
For many years, cricket has been seen as a game dominated by the big schools in Colombo, where access to coaches, equipment and resources is more readily available. In contrast, for underserved schools such as Devapathiraja, the story is very different. A single quality cricket bat can cost tens of thousands of rupees and full cricket gear is often beyond the reach of an average family. Travelling to away matches adds to the expenses, making it extremely difficult for talented young players from outstation schools to pursue their passion.
This is why the Foundation of Goodness has been proud to stand alongside Devapathiraja College for over a decade. From sponsoring the salaries of two boys’ cricket coaches and two girls’ coaches to providing annual clothing for both boys’ and girls’ teams, as well as donating cricket equipment whenever received from visiting teams, the support has been consistent and unwavering. We even helped cover the costs of transport for away matches, a vital necessity to ensure the team could simply compete. Since 2024, we have been providing the school with a monthly donation of Rs. 150,000 to cover cricket-related expenses, giving the players the resources they need to compete at the highest level.
The triumph of Devapathiraja College in the U17 Division 1 Championship is a cricketing victory, a story of resilience and determination. It is proof that when underserved schools are given the right opportunities, they can rise to the top and stand shoulder to shoulder with Colombo’s most established institutions.
This victory belongs not only to the boys who fought so bravely on the field, but to every coach, parent, supporter and well-wisher who believed in their potential. At the Foundation of Goodness, we are proud to have played a part in their journey and to see the dreams of these young cricketers come alive.
Congratulations, Devapathiraja College, true champions and an inspiration to us all!
