Cricket balls donated to 134 schools

Yasaratne Gamage

Cricket balls, donated by Sri Lanka Cricket’s UK committee were distributed among 134 schools playing division one, two and three at a ceremony held at the Kettarama Stadium under the patronage of the Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday. Accordingly, 20 balls were donated to each school, playing in division one and two while for division three schools 12 balls were donated.

The event took place as a result of a request made by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association from Sri Lanka Cricket.

SLC with the sponsorship of SLC UK Committee made it a reality when cricket skippers, MICs and POGs of 134 schools island-wide received their allocation from the minister. Earlier, through SLC UK Committee, cricket matting and other cricket equipment were distributed among 204 schools.

The SLC yesterday also announced that they would provide 5000 balls to under-15 and 17 teams to be used during the coming school cricket season. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that SLC through their UK committee has done a great job by providing equipment otherwise the government could have invested a lot of finance.

He also emphasized the fact that engaging in any kind of sport helps to form a healthy person to the society. Considering importance, the government has made it compulsory for every school student to engage in a sport from 2014. Deepal Ahangama, vice president of SLC UK committee expressed their willingness to support Sri Lanka school cricket and hoped to continue with more donations in future.

He also noted that students who excel in sports will get merits to enter university and other higher education bodies, an initiative jointly operated by the sports ministry, education ministry and the university grants commission.

Representatives from SLC, SLSCA, SLC UK Committee, sports department of the ministry of education and head masters, teachers, cricket captains were also present on the occasion.