Australia plays cricket match at boys home

A team from the Australian High Commission played a friendly cricket match against young cricketers from the Child Protection Society (CPS) Boys Home, Maharagama on Saturday March 21.

The match was organised by the Australian High Commission for the third consecutive year to encourage public support for the CPS boys' and girls' homes and foster friendship and development through sport.

The Child Protection Society was established in 1928 as the first child protection organisation in Sri Lanka and South Asia and is engaged in protecting and promoting child welfare.

The Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman who opened the batting for the High Commission team said "The Australian High Commission continues to enjoy playing against the talented CPS team.

I am pleased that so many others from the wider CPS community and the Sri Lankan cricket community were able to join us.

The main aims of organising this cricket match are to provide an opportunity for the children to showcase their talents and encourage them to pursue their talents in any sphere of their choice and, to raise wider awareness of the children's plight and the social issues they are faced with.

We, I hope our association with the home over the last few years has in some measure supported in achieving these aims."

The CPS Boys Home team was captained by sixteen year old K.A. Ishara Ruwan Kumara who has lived at the home for the past five years. The cricket match was attended by over 200 people including former national cricketers Aravinda de Silva, Brendon Kuruppu and Ravindra Pushpakumara, Australian High Commission staff and family members, the president of the boys home, board members and trustees of the Child Protection Society and well wishers.