The Old Boys and parents of Maris Stella College, Negombo and Holy Cross College, Kalutara are planning to revive their Big match after a lapse of 22 years. The Big Cricketing encounter which commenced in 1979 continued but only for a short period of seven years. Again the game came to a halt in the year 1985 due many reasons. Once again all interested parties of both
schools revived the match but that too lasted only for three years. However out of the ten matches played in the past only two games ended with results with each winning a match .
It has to be noted that Rev. Bro. Francis Silva who served at Maris Stella College in the past and also the first Marist Brother to Administer Holy Cross College was instrumental in reviving this Battle of the lagoons encounter along with Old Boy of both schools.
Both schools governed by Mairst Brothers and the present management of them were approached by the Old Boys of both schools and have forwarded the proposal to revive the game which has got the approval from all.
All Old Boys and past cricketers of these schools have met and have decided to conduct the ‘Battle of the Lagoons’ from next year at a neutral venue.
In the past both these schools have produced many national cricketers . In fact some of them have represented the country at Test and ODIs.
Fast bowlers Graham Labrooy and Ranga Dias were the two Maristonians were the top players produced by the Negombo school. Meanwhile in the early part of 2000 Mevan Fernando who captained the Maris Stella College was selected to lead the under 19 national team for the World Cup.
As a launching ceremony the two groups have organized a gala show to be held in Kalutara on July 30. The organisers have arranged two T/20 matches for past cricketers Under 30 and over 30 cricketers of these schools.
As part of the launching ceremony Holy Cross College Old Boys and well wishers of have planned to have a walk along with their counterparts to announce the recommencing of the ‘Battle of the Lagoons’. The walk will commence with all Kalutara Clock tower and parade through the Kalutara city limits before returning to the Kalutara Esplanade to the commence the matches.
Dasun Shanaka is tipped to lead the Maris Stella College over 30 Past cricketers while his deputy will be Mevan Fernando. He is to have the services of cricketers in the calibre of Wendle Labrooy, and Ishan Muthalif. Meanwhile the Holy Cross Under 30 team is to be captained by Dharmapriya Pathirana.