Players' union to track down former stars

The Sri Lanka Cricketers Association (SLCA), Sri Lanka's players' union, has launched an urgent global search to track down all past national cricketers as it wants to bring together as many as possible for a major fundraising event in Colombo on September 29.

The SLCA is organising a six-a-side Cricket Fiesta on September 26 at the Sinhalese Sports Club with a line-up that will include numerous former and current national cricketers. Televised live, the event will be followed by a felicitation ceremony at Water's Edge on September 29.

The two events form part of a major campaign to ensure Sri Lanka's cricketers are properly looked after post-retirements with health insurance and pensions. For years Sri Lanka's cricketers have been poorly paid and many talented players have been forced out of the game early due to economic problems.

SLCA has started to address these problems by teaming up with Sri Lanka Insurance, the largest insurance provider on the island, to offer its 500 members life insurance pension scheme.

"The SLCA was started to look after the welfare of our cricketers and the pension scheme is a significant step towards fulfilling it. It is an auspicious day for us to go into partnership with the largest insurance company in Sri Lanka," Sidath Wettimuny, SLCA president, said.

Nishantha Ranatunga, SLCA's chief executive, has also announced that the SLCA is planning to build a special hostel for under-privileged outstation cricketers wanting to pursue a cricketing career in Colombo.

"Roughly around 300 cricketers from the outstations come to Colombo to play cricket and a hostel for them is a basic requirement," he said.

SLCA has request former players living in the ountry or abroad to get in touch with the association by calling +94112439648 or +94777757201. Emails can be sent to slca@wow.lk or nishanthar2003@yahoo.com and further details requested.