Premalal Kumarasiri, the principal of Mahanama College, Colombo, said that he had not violated any admittance procedure when the college took in Dananjaya Maduranga and Sohan Samarasooriya from Debarawewa National School before their annual Big Match against D. S. Senanayake College, last year.

Under-17 cricketers, Dananjaya Maduranga and Sohan Samarasooriya, who were taken in from Debarawewa National School prior to the Big Match between DSS and Mahanama, have changed schools four times within the last 10 months to play cricket. The duo from Tissamaharama, who played the Inter School Under-17 Cricket Tournaments for Debarawewa NS in 2007 and 2008, played for Mahanama First XI for a short period. Currently, they are studying at Richmond College, Galle.

Incidentally, the duo who had finished their O/L examination were taken in by Mahanama College to do their Advanced Level even before the results were released. "I have documents to prove that the correct procedure was followed. I obtained permission from the Ministry of Education to take in the duo from Debarawewa National School," Kumarasiri told ‘The Island’.

The twosome’s short spell in the Mahanama team triggered speculation that they had been taken in solely for the purpose of strengthening the team for the Big Match. But the principal said that they were taken in for Advanced Level studies and he regretted that they left the school suddenly. "They didn’t have First XI cricket at their school. The OBU had helped them. And they would have gained a lot, had they remained here. Suddenly, their parents wanted to remove them from the school to which I could not disagree," said Kumarasiri.

After leaving Mahanama, the two players played for Debarawewa National School in the on-going Inter School Under-17 tournament and after completing the second round matches they have now joined Richmond College for their Advanced Level studies. Sources close to Richmond College said that the duo would most probably play in the First XI season which will start shortly.

When Kapila Jayalath, the Under-17 Tournament Secretary of the SLSCA was contacted in this regard, he said that he was aware of the controversial move by the two cricketers, but they cannot be punished since there has been no protest raised by the original school. "Under the laws governing the sports bodies of the Education Sector, action cannot be taken against them as the original school has not protested against their move," said Jayalath.