Aravinda in the cause of the needy with Rican bat (15 December 1998)

15 December 1998

Aravinda in the cause of the needy with Rican bat

by Richard Dwight

Teaming up with Rican Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, in the name and cause of charity this festive season of giving, is the world's finest batsman Aravinda de Silva and the former dazzling batsman and, now chairman of selectors Duleep Mendis.

This was said by way of introduction by cricket presenter and TV commentator Brian Thomas, who with inimitable candor and finesse, steered proceedings of the official launch of Rican Lanka's elegant gold plated cricket bat in the form of a key tag autographed by Aravinda, last Monday at the Hilton JAIC tower.

Rican Lanka is a pioneer project not only in Sri Lanka but also in the SAARC region to manufacture metal accessories for garment, bag and shoe industries. The purpose of this novel idea of manufacturing 100,000, 24 carat gold plated "Cricket bat key tags' and selling it at the affordable price of Rs. 100 each was threefold. Firstly to make the point to its prospective customers that metal accessories produced by Rican are fine quality product at attractive prices. Secondly its strong idea to participate in charity programs and contribute to a worthy cause by donating part of the sale proceeds to under privileged children and lastly to coincide with its support and maintain the image of our Sri Lanka team to continue to be the World Champions.

This novel key tags, which will be made available through the Singer Company sales outlets, will apart from contributing to a worthy cause, enable the purchaser of having a chance to win one of the ten free air tickets to witness the World Cup cricket match to be played in England in 1999 through the free raffle draw, included as a special and free package for the purchases of this 'gold bat key tag' it must be mentioned that earlier this month Rican in a charitable act donated 200 exercise books to the children of the deaf and blind school Ratmalana and 50 school bags containing stationery kits were presented to the Parakrama Boy's Home at Kandana.

Before inviting Aravinda to speak on the occasion Brian Thomas as a preliminary said that Aravinda spent his birthday with the children of the deaf and blind school at Ratmalana and apart from the runs he scores, he is well meaning and soft enough to be large hearted to be engaged in charity. Aravinda said that it was his custom to visit the school for the deaf and blind at Ratmalana with his parents. Each time he went there he found himself becoming silent and retrospectively pensive. He struck a poignant note and sparked off a wave of emotion when he stressed, that we who are enjoying normal lives must think of these unfortunate children living in such homes, adding that part of the monies realised by the sale of these bats will be siphoned of to assist these institutions.

Every father and mother he urged should realise the importance of this and encourage their children to be concerned about the hapless needy. Duleep Mendis following on, said that serving the cause of the disadvantaged and underprivileged was an obsession with Aravinda and so he readily agreed to autograph the gold plated key tag bat, when he knew it was for a worthy cause - a genius in gold is the right term and best way to honour this rare and brilliant batsman who is a genius today, concluded Mendis.

Business Development Manager of Singer, Jaliya Jayasuriya said that his company was happy to be associated with this laudable venture and that they would be responsible for the sale of these bats. The chairman of Rican Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Suresh Mirchandani who envisaged the project gave a brief historical background of the entire venture. Gracing the occasion was the Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Samurdhi, Jeewan Kumaratunga and Sri Lankan Cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Romesh Kaluwitharna.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)