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SLC honours... :
President Rajapaksa's second innings
Elmo Rodrigopulle
In honouring President Mahinda Rajapaksa on this historic occasion,
rarely in the annals of Sri Lankan cricket have the administrators
stepped up to blend the game with social responsibility of striking
proportions.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa |
On Monday SLC partnered with the rest of the country on a tree
planting innings. Seven leading cricket venues saw the planting of
trees. This will not only honour and etch in our memories the historic
occasion that November 19, 2010 is, it will also allow posterity to look
back and pay tribute by appreciating through the tree planning effort,
the shade and the picturesque beauty that the trees will provide to the
selected cricket grounds.
Unstinted
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Chairman SLC
D Somachandra de Silva |
Leading this effort is Sri Lanka Cricket headed by former leg
spinning all rounder and Captain D Somachandra de Silva. He has laid the
pitch to celebrate and honour President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a fitting
way. SLC has the unstinted support of President Rajapaksa in its
endeavour to host the 2011 World Cup and indeed emerge as champions. The
President will grace events organized by SLC that celebrate his taking
strike in his second innings.
To the credit of Sri Lanka Cricket's Interim Committee it must be
stated that they have cleverly ducked the vicious bouncers bowled at
them. They have and stood unbowed and unafraid in doing things for the
success of the cricketers and the game.
The recent success by the cricketers when for the first time they
stuffed the kangaroos in their own back yard by winning a one-day series
for the first time proves the credentials of SLC.
Cricket gear
SLC will deliver their first match winning delivery at the
picturesque Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in
Sooriyawewa, Hambantota which was the President's gift to the cricketers
and the game, distributing cricket gear to three District Associations
in the South.
SLC will get their coaching staff to inaugurate a coaching program
for 200 young cricketers. Coaches in the Southern Province are also in
luck's way as they will be the recipients of ICC endorsed coaching
booklets.
The support and leadership that President Mahinda Rajapaksa provides
is vital for the game of cricket to attain world-class standards.
His sponsorship has been recognized in the Region. President
Rajapaksa who was the Guest of Honour at the recently concluded
Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. A sequel to this will be the
opportunity that may be afforded to Sri Lanka to host the 2018 Games.
Patronage
Sports fans in general, and cricket enthusiasts in particular, look
forward to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's patronage and support to sports
in the country be they at village level or at national level and
international levels. We are confident of a fruitful and heavy scoring
second innings at the wicket. |
