13/08/2026
๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ ๐ณ๐ฌ๐๐ต ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ต ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐บ๐๐ป๐ (12th August)! A stylish cricketer with a charming look and equipped with a great technique and temperament, Sidath, the youngest in a band of brothers who all excelled in the pre-test era at Ananda Mawatha, went all the way to carve his name on the honours list at Lord's. Sunil, Mitra and Sidath Wettimuny were synonymous with Ananda Cricket as three brothers went on to lead Ananda College in 1st XI Cricket, Sunil in 1968, Mitra in 1970 and Sidath in 1975. As a schoolboy, Sidath debuted for SSC in first-class cricket in 1975, and after a stellar performance, made his ODI & Test debut for Sri Lanka against England in 1982. Sidath has many firsts: the first Sri Lankan to score a century, 157 against Pakistan at Faisalabad on Sri Lankaโs maiden tour in 1982 and was involved in a twin-century partnership (217 with Roy Dias). He opened the batting with his brother, Mithra, in two Test matches in New Zealand in 1983, the first instance of two brothers opening a Test innings since W. G. and E. M. Grace in 1880. Sidath was the first to carry the bat through an innings for Sri Lanka (1983, against New Zealand at Christchurch). In Sri Lankaโs maiden Test at the mecca of Cricket, at Lordโs in โ84, stylish Sidath stroked 190 against England. The first Lankan to carve his name on the honours board at Lordโs and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1985, the first Lankan to be honoured by Wisden. His epic Lordโs innings stood for a few years as Sri Lankaโs Test-best and remains one of the most elegant innings by a Lankan overseas. In fact, Sidath enjoyed batting on overseas pitches more than on home soil, yet his career lasted only 05 years, often plagued by poor form and lack of matches. However, when he strode out to bat as a right-handed opening bat, Sidath was eye candy to watch. Compared to ODIโs, Sidath did well in the Test arena between 1982 and 1987. Played in 23 Tests and 35 ODIs, scoring 1221 and 786 runs, respectively. He retired in 1987 and became a match referee and later became the chairman of selectors for Sri Lanka Cricket, President of the Sri Lanka Cricketers' Association in 2006 and also a member and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee (2015). Mild-mannered, calm but never shied away from calling a spade a spade, Sidath was a straightforward administrator who stood for good governance. Hereโs wishing Sidath good health and good times ahead!
