The re launch of Cricket Aid by Sri Lanka Cricket

Admin | 08 Jun, 2016 11:01AM | Leave a comment
There were no bugles for a clarion call, no drummers and no exotic dancers but the President of Sri Lanka Cricket and the Deputy Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Thilanga Sumathipala flanked by the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, Arundika Fernando the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Medha Laud of the ECB pressed the button to launch the Cricket Aid Website amidst a tumultuous applause reverberating the hallowed Long Room at Lords on Saturday June 4th.



A very fitting inauguration or shall we say the relaunch of Cricket Aid by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Though belonging to diverse ethnicities practicing different religions the Sri Lankan people unite as one team in their passion for cricket. SLC promotes the theme One Team One Nation in an effort to rally the cricket loving public together as one.

A very informative video presentation on the facts and figures of the project to combat Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) was provided by Shift.LK This included interviews with sufferers as well as doctors providing first-hand information on this illness.

The guests were given a very clear understanding of CKD and the dangers it presented. Statistics indicate that 2000 people die of this disease while around 20,000 are admitted to hospitals annually. The disease is most prominent amongst poor farmers. The reasons for this epidemic is lack of or limited access to clean drinking water and shortage of dialysis machines to treat those afflicted.

The aim is to support these farming communities by offering much needed medical and financial assistance as well as counselling support.

Bats signed by Sri Lankan Cricket heroes Aravinda, Sanath and Sangakarra amongst others were auctioned to fund raise and attracted bids in the thousands.

The after dinner speech was by Graham Gooch who gave valuable hints and advice to our cricketers highlighting the importance of concentration. He also gave an insight to some of his experiences as a developing cricketer highlighting the game in which Viv Richards made a record breaking quickest hundred mercilessly pulverising Emburey and also narrated the dour encounters with his then captains Geoffrey Boycott and Ian Botham.

The vote of thanks was by Sarath Abeysundera the UK representative for SLC.

And it was close of play with Cricket Aid the only official charity supported by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board having 'Thousands' on the score board and hopeful of donations from the next day and weeks.

If you would like to donate, the bank details are as follows:

Account: Sri Lanka Cricket - UK
Bank: HSBC
Sort Code: 40 - 28 - 06
A/c No: 34582365

For more information, contact: 07980 211939, 07740 877322

Photographs by Praneeth Hettiarachchi