Chamika Heenatigala – a capable allrounder
Chamika Heenatigala, an 18-year-old allrounder from Mahanama College, with a decent wealth of first class experience and an impressive National Youth player, has indicated his potential of becoming a future star for Sri Lanka.
With 109 runs including a half century, at an average of 109, and with three wickets with his leg-spins, Heenatigala showed what he is capable of at the recent ICC Under-19 World Cup, a height he climbed after years of commitment. From joining the NCC Cricket Academy at the age of eight, honing his hidden skills under watchful eyes of Charith Liyanage and the veteran Lionel Mendis, Heenatigala went on to represent Mahanama College under the guidance of Sonal Dilusha in his early years.
His progress from the Under-13 level, where Heenatigala finished as the Best Bowler runner-up with 42 wickets in 2018 was a springboard for his allround performance the next season where he made 565 runs and claimed 50 wickets to become the Best Allrounder.
These early indications and constant performances earned him the captaincy of the Mahanama Under-17 team in the 2021/22 season, where Heenatigala made 140 runs and took 11 wickets, including a five-fer, in five matches. His rapid progress helped him break into the First XI side, where Heenatigala continued to impress and went all the way to play in the 17th Aravinda de Silva Trophy Limited Overs encounter against D.S. Senanayake College, where he took 2 for 26. This made Heenatigala the youngest to earn the Player of the Match award at 16 in their annual limited overs big match. But he endured a lean season in 2023/24, scoring just 165 runs in 12 games; a decline that dented his confidence.
“I regard the failure was a turning point, it showed how harsh cricket can be, and motivated me to take my game to the next level,” Heenatigala said.
Undeterred, Heenatigala weathered the storms by committing himself on hours of training and constant backing of his family, to regain his lost form and score 970 runs, with two tons and eight fifties, while claiming 51 wickets in very next season. This rise took him all the way to feature in Moors SC’s Under-23 side in 2024/25, where Heenatigala made 112 runs and claimed 15 wickets, with the backing of his then school coach Ashan Priyanjan.
After failing to find a place at Moors, which had a star-studded first class side, Heenatigala moved to Burgher Recreation Club (BRC), where he made the first class debut and scored 225 runs with 16 wickets the same season. Despite all these accolades, Heenatigala managed to balance his academic commitments by excelling the G.C.E. Ordinary Level with impressive results of three each of A, B and C passes. By this point, the youngster had already knocked the door of the National Under-19 side, reaching the preliminary 30-player squad named for the 2025/26 cycle. Impressively, Heenatigala was the sole member with domestic cricket experience among the 30 players.
“The experience at first class level was invaluable, and a learning curve. It helped me develop the ability to bat under pressure, and I’m thankful for first BRC captain Malinda Pushpakumara, for the guidance that shaped my skills”.
With the Sri Lanka Youth side, Heenatigala’s character remained unchanged. He became the side’s dependable allrounder. On debut against Bangladesh at home, he impressed with 182 runs at 45.50, including two half centuries, though Sri Lanka lost the series 3-2, with a match washed out. After a three-month break, the youngster struggled with the bat in the West Indies, scoring 113 runs at 22.60, but shone with the ball, taking eight wickets at 26.12. The spirits from the bittersweet tour were boosted after an inspiring evening with cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards ahead of the Under-19 Asia Cup.
Leading into the Asia Cup, Heenatigala captained Colombo North to victory in the SLC Youth League, scoring 150 runs and taking eight wickets, earning the player of the tournament award and boosting confidence ahead of the continental tournament, where Sri Lanka began the Asia Cup campaign with a strong statement. The wins against Nepal and Afghanistan were moral boosters but lost momentum against Bangladesh and were knocked out by India in a rain-affected semi-final. Despite the semi-final heartbreak, Chamika impressed with 134 runs at 67.00, including an unbeaten 51 against Afghanistan, and claimed three wickets, finishing on a high ahead of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Heenatigala fulfilled his dream of representing Sri Lanka at the Youth World Cup, where wins over Japan and Ireland were overshadowed by a heavy defeat to Australia, costing them a semi-final spot despite Super Six victories against Afghanistan and South Africa. Reflecting on his Youth career, Heenatigala credited Head Coach Chamara Silva and the team management for backing him to play his natural game.
“I was pleased to contribute consistently while thriving under pressure,” he stated.
In his National Youth career, Heenatigala scored 538 runs at 44.83 in 22 matches and claimed 14 wickets, contributing effectively across all phases of the game. Following an impressive Youth career, Heenatigala now aims to cement his place in domestic cricket, impress at Emerging and Sri Lanka ‘A’ levels, and push for national selection, aspiring to follow the footsteps of his idols Kumar Sangakkara, Rangana Herath, Virat Kohli and Kamindu Mendis.