All-rounder Sithmi Hirasha of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda became the inaugural winner of the Most Popular Schoolgirl Cricketer of the Year 2019 award.
“I think I got this award because of my talent. I am very happy and proud of myself,” said 19-year-old Sithmi who bagged a Best Bowler award last year after snaring 22 wickets with her off breaks.
The eldest in a family of four, she has a level-headed personality balancing her pursuit of cricket as a career alongside her education.
“I want to become an engineer,” said Sithmi confidently as she awaits her A/L results. “I did my best in the exam.”
Asked about her ambitions in cricket, she said, “My goal is to play for the national team. I played badminton earlier but now I only like cricket. I started playing cricket when I was 12 years and have been continuing to play since.”
Captain of Anula Vidyalaya team for two seasons, she has the potential to blossom into a fine all-rounder with more exposure. Sahan Deshapriya was her first coach while she is under the wing of Dinesh Weerasinghe now.
Sithmi hails from a cricketing family. Her father Jayantha Navanandana played cricket while her brother Isara Kanchana is playing for President’s College, Kotte at present.
She reiterated her ambition to play for the Sri Lanka national team as she refocuses her career goals following her triumph at the 41st Observer-Mobitel School Cricketer Awards.
“I want to play for the national team and also to become an engineer,” said Sithmi who seems to have the self confidence and pedigree to showcase her skills and talents in both fields.