Mendis, the former Sri Lankan captain, manager and chairman of the selection committee, will head the academy in the capacity of its director-cum-ambassador. Kaluperuma will be his deputy. The academy will go in for selection of students from the Capital from the age of seven and put them in academies that are already in existence.

Speaking to newspersons at teh launch function, Mendis lauded ``the idea which is to get a base to train.'' He said the academy was looking at 400 students playing in various centres in a year's time. ``I am happy to contribute and share my experiences with the youngsters here. What we are looking for is youngsters with good basics who can be put in various academies that are already functioning in the Capital,'' Mendis said.

Kaluperuma, who represented Sri Lanka in two World Cups, said the main idea of the new academy would be to ``teach youngsters a particular approach to the game.'' ``We will also inculcate the same approach to the various coaches who will assist us. The emphasis will be on mental toughness and physical fitness. The players will be put under a regiment,'' he added.

To begin with, the first batch of `selected boys' will go to the Playmakers Academy. They would be provided training by Indian coaches under Duleep Mendis' guidance.

Mendis said he would visit the academy once in four months. ``Whenever possible, we will try to get a few Sri Lankan cricketers to visit the academy,'' he added.