A tall fast bowler, Kanishka Alwitigala began his career with little known Homagama MV and came to Lumbini MV to do his 'O' levels. He eventually ended up playing for Thurstan College whom he represented for three years in the first XI, finishing with the all-island best bowler runner-up prize by scalping 65 wickets. He joined Colombo Colts soon after taking five wickets in the Under-23 semi-final against Nondescripts CC in 2008-09. Bowling with national fast bowlers Chaminda Vaas, Ruchira Perera and Nuwan Kulasekera has helped Alwitigala immensely and the inputs from the former Sri Lanka fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake and Anusha Samaranayake, head of Sri Lanka's fast bowling academy have also helped in his development. The best advice he's received from them is to bowl more dot balls and commit the batsman into making mistakes. He clocks between 135-140 kph and hopes to improve on that figure.
Sa'adi Thawfeeq