Fund raising activities for BCCSL initiatives (29 May 1998)

29 May 1998

Fund raising activities for BCCSL initiatives

From Ivan Corea in London

First ever Sri Lanka Day in Essex during world champions' UK tour.

The first ever SRI LANKA DAY in Essex will be held on Sunday July 17 in Buckhurst Hill aimed at raising funds for the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka initiative to buy equipment for needy children in provincial areas of Sri Lanka.

The event will be held during the 1998 tour of he World Champions - the Sri Lanka cricket team. The chief guest is the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and several British MPs. The event is scheduled to be covered by press, radio and television.

The world famous Channa Wijewardene dance troupe who are currently performing in the United States of America will take centre stage at the SRI LANKA DAY in Essex, there will also be a photographic exhibition of Sri Lanka by the leading Sri Lankan photographer Eshan Goonasekera and Britons will be able to taste the cusine of Sri Lanka as a traditional Sri Lankan meal will be served for luncheon.

Various dignitaries will be visiting Buckhurst Hill to back this key event. A video of the World Cup final of 1996 between Sri Lanka and Australia will also be shown to the British public.

This event in the wake of the football World Cup will focus attention on to the tour of the World Champions - what makes this Sri Lanka Day so interesting is that most of the organisers are English - they are excited by the imminent visit of Arjuna Ranatunga and his team.

This is what should be encouraged at grassroots level amongst the cricket loving public in the UK. Among the organisers is Rev. Allan Comfort, a former top English footballer who played for Queens Park Rangers, Leyton Orient and Middlesborough before a knee injury forced him out of football.

Among those attending are representatives from the BCCSL and the BCCSL Representative Committee of the UK.

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