Meet The SRI LANKAN Team - Sri Lankan Family Fun Day 2014

The great win by our cricketers at Lord's on Saturday was followed up by an equally impressive display of impassioned dedication and generosity on Sunday, when they took part in a Sri Lanka Family Open Day at the Surrey Kia Oval mingling with hundreds of Sri Lankan cricket fans and their families. The cricketers signed autographs, coached in the indoor nets and took part in a 'kwik' cricket session in the middle with over hundred Sri Lankan children of all ethnic backgrounds and faiths during the tea-interval at the Surrey vs Worcester County Championship game. What a fabulous sight it was to see the great ambassadors of Sri Lanka cricket playing cricket with the children on a beautiful Summer's day, with the grounds bathed in bright sunshine and over two thousand Sri Lankan cricket fans and their families enjoying a day out with the Surrey County Cricket Club faithful also enjoying the spectacle. It was a sight to behold!

How do you measure the success of such an Event?
The aroma of freshly cooked Sri Lankan food wafting in the air, Sri Lankan supporters chanting 'SRI LANKA!!! SRI LANKA!!!' when the team arrived in the Lambeth Hall, and a cultural dance to welcome the team. The Puja Natuma was conducted by Sarasi Dancing Group from Birmingham, coordinated by Chanaka Dissanayake. The Bharata Natyam was organised by Pradeep Kandappa from Potters Bar Ministry. Some of the most seasoned well-travelled players were overwhelmed by the number of supporters who had come to see them from all over the country. One of the youngest members of the touring party staying with the public and signing autographs with a smile on his face all the time and when requested to move along to the indoor nets, his comments were, "I can't refuse our fans". All the kids coming back from the 'Kwik' Cricket were chatting to each other, many had most probably met each other for the first time, talking about playing cricket with their heroes....success of the event....unmeasurable! These were second and third generation Sri Lankan youngsters and their families of all backgrounds who would have been inspired by their experience of mingling and playing with their cricketing heroes, and who will support Sri Lanka cricket in the future.

Sri Lanka Cricket UK Committee along with Surrey County Cricket Club would like to thank the cricketers and the management team for attending the event, which was a huge success.

Sri Lanka Cricket UK Committee and Sri Lanka Cricket would like to thank Surrey County Cricket and all the support staff for collaborating with SLCUK to host such a wonderful community event for the Sri Lankan diaspora which is believed to be a first for Sri Lanka cricket supporters in the UK.