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Final arrangements have been made to stage the 8th annual St. Benedict's - D.S. Senanayake cricket encounter at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama on March 19 and 20.

A press briefing was held at the St. Benedict's College in this regard. The Director of St. Benedict's Rev. Bro. Bertram Perera said that although there is a disparity in the existence of the two schools a 'Big Match' of this nature has been an important one.

St. Benedict's has a history of more than 125 years and is a leading Catholic school run by De La Salle brothers while D.S. Senanayake is a predominantly Buddhist school. However, the message of both religions are almost the same, said the director.

This is probably the only school 'Big Match' being played with a professional touch where prize money is involved, he added.

The winning team will get Rs. 15,000 and the losers Rs. 7,500. In a case of a tie the teams will get Rs. 11,250 each.

The man of the match will be presented Rs. 5,000 and a trophy while the best batsman and bowler will get Rs. 2,500 each.

The Cricket Coordinator of St. Benedict's Rev. Bro. Nimal Gurusinghe said that the Benedictines were playing a big match till 1963 against a Combined Sister College Team which comprised players from the La Sallian Schools, like St. Sebastians Moratuwa, St. Anne's Kurunegala, De Mazenod Kandana, St. Mary's Chilaw and St. Anthony's Wattala. The tournament gradually faded away with the Sister Colleges being able to form their own strong combinations.

The others who were present at the press conference were the Principal of D.S. Senanayake A.H. Adhikari and Prefect of Games M.T.A. Rauff, Angelo Canjemanathan, Coordinating Secretary (St. Benedict's) and Roy Kulatunga (Coordinating secretary D.S. Senanayake College).