Australia, India, Lanka cricketers answer children's SOS (27 August 1999)
It was an experience of a lifetime for the less affluent boys and girls at SOS Children's Village when they had the rare opportunity of spending an evening with their sporting heroes, the Australian, Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers at Taj Samudra
27-Aug-1999
27 August 1999
Australia, India, Lanka cricketers answer children's SOS
Sudeepa Damayanthi
It was an experience of a lifetime for the less affluent boys and
girls at SOS Children's Village when they had the rare opportunity of
spending an evening with their sporting heroes, the Australian,
Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers at Taj Samudra Hotel.
Facing the leg breaks of Australian spin wizard Shane Warne, bowling
to Sri Lankan master batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and having a word with
Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar were some of the memorable moments
for the children from SOS at Piliyandala.
The event was organised by the Taj Samudra Hotel, in association with
the SOS Children's Villages of Sri Lanka to raise funds for social
projects. While the SOS Village children were special invitees, the
other city children were admitted for a ticket priced at Rs. 100 and
the proceeds were in aid of SOS Children's Village.
The national cricket teams playing in the current Aiwa Cup triangular
tournament - Sri Lanka, Australia and India, found time off their
busy schedule to take part in this worthy venture.
It was nice seeing the reigning world champions Australia and two
former World champion teams Sri Lanka and India, mixing with those
less fortunate children, who enjoyed every moment of the wonderful
evening they had. They not only talked freely to their cricketing
heroes, but also has a session of cricket.
Tears came to the eyes of the world cricket heroes as they saw the
smiling faces of the poor children, who faced the leg spin of Shane
Warne and several other bowlers and bowled at their champion batsmen
- Sanath Jayasuriya, Steve Waugh and the rest.
The Australian captain Steve Waugh was so emotional when he came
across a resident of SOS Village at Anuradhapura, little Wasantha
Kumara, who has been a great follower of the game. Waugh finally gave
his cricket cap to Kumara, a present which could not be valued in
money for this little boy.
There were many autographs for the cricketing heroes to sign but they
obliged each and everyone.
Source :: The Daily News (https://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/)