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A Ratnapura gem polished at Ragama - The Island
Ratnapura is fondly known as the ‘City of Gems’. It is fair to say that Sri Lanka’s gemstone capital has turned more ordinary men into billionaires than any other corner of the island. Many locals believe the blessings of the sacred Maha Saman Devalaya, situated in the heart of the city, are behind the prosperity that adorns many homes there. They may as well add another name to that glittering list. He is neither a miner nor a gem trader. He is a cricketer who answers to the name of Eshan Malinga. Malinga is currently the second highest wicket-taker in this season’s IPL. His stocks continue to soar with every outing as captains increasingly trust him with the toughest assignment in T20 cricket – the death overs. He does not possess the sling-shot action of his namesake Lasith Malinga nor the express pace of Dushmantha Chameera. What the new Malinga has mastered instead is the dying art of reverse swing. More often than not, he is introduced during the closing stages of the innings and has made a habit of getting the old ball to talk. Add to that his clever variations – slower balls, wide yorkers and sharp changes of pace – and his armoury suddenly looks complete. The IPL is a breeding ground for elite fast bowlers. There’s Kagiso Rabada, Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah, while rising stars such as Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh continue to make waves. Amid all these celebrated names, Malinga is not merely holding his own; he is carving out an identity for himself. Bought for just over USD 100,000 last season, expect his value to multiply several times over by the next auction. Some may wonder how Ratnapura, hardly known as a cricketing hub, produced a fast bowler of Eshan Malinga’s calibre. His breakthrough came when Airtel conducted a fastest bowler competition. Malinga won it comfortably and caught the eye of Sri Lanka Cricket Fast Bowling Coach Darshana Gamage, who was impressed not merely by the pace, but also by the youngster’s attitude and perseverance. Gamage recommended him to several clubs and Ragama moved swiftly to secure his services. That is where the Ratnapura gem was polished. Ragama Cricket Club has survived on a shoestring budget despite competing in First Class cricket for nearly three decades. While traditional outstation strongholds such as Kandy, Galle and Kurunegala have struggled to stay afloat, Ragama’s longevity is remarkable, especially considering they do not even own a ground. Scratch beneath the surface and you discover a handf...
A Rathnapura gem unearthed by Airtel and polished at Ragama
Private entities should be encouraged to conduct initiatives such as fastest bowler competitions. Around 15 years ago, one such programme conducted by Sirasa TV unearthed Nuwan Pradeep, while a few years ago an initiative undertaken by Airtel helped discover Eshan Malinga. Today, the young seamer has become the talking point of the IPL, doing the unimaginable on cricket’s biggest T-20 stage. The Sri Lankan is currently the second highest wicket-taker in the IPL with 16 scalps to his name and one more wicket could earn him the coveted Purple Cap. Not bad for a 25-year-old rookie competing alongside the likes of Jofra Archer, Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada. Kirsten set to take guard as Sri Lanka seek reset ‘A’ team cricket; where futures are forged Malinga’s skilful bowling has been one of the key reasons why Sunrisers Hyderabad are sitting pretty at the top of the table. The youngster is handling the toughest assignment in T-20 cricket – bowling at the death. He may not possess the slingy, awkward action of his namesake Lasith Malinga or the raw pace of Dushmantha Chameera, but he has developed a skill set that makes him extremely difficult to line up. There is a hint of reverse swing when he operates with the older ball, which is why Cummins has held him back for the business end of the innings. The ploy has worked like a charm. Add to that a cleverly disguised wide yorker and subtle variations in pace and batters have found themselves tied up in knots. Malinga’s current deal with Hyderabad is worth just over USD 100,000. But make no mistake, if he continues producing performances of this calibre, his value at the next auction could soar tenfold. It was in 2019 that Malinga took part in the Airtel Fastest Bowler competition and won the event after clocking 142 kmph as an 18-year-old. The pace did not quite kick on as many expected, partly due to a string of injuries, but what improved significantly was his craft. More importantly, he learnt how to keep his nerve under pressure – a priceless quality for a bowler entrusted with death overs. Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Darshana Gamage deserves enormous credit for Malinga’s rise. Beyond the pace, what impressed Gamage most was the youngster’s perseverance and work ethic when he first spotted him at Airtel nets. It was Gamage who recommended Malinga to several clubs. Ragama Cricket Club, a club Gamage both represented and coached, showed faith in the youngster and signed him up. ...
Hettigoda Gems Ratnapura on Reels | Facebook
Last viewed on: May 7, 2026
Ananda Ranasinghe: A legend of Sri Lankan swimming - The Island
Gamage recommended him to several clubs and Ragama moved swiftly to secure his services. That is where the Ratnapura gem was polished. Ragama Cricket Club has survived on a shoestring budget despite competing in First Class cricket for nearly three decades.
