SLC launches Rs 200m Cricket-Aid program

They say that style is the man. And that is how Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headed by immediate past president Thilanga Sumathipala launched its disaster assistance fund named 'Cricket-Aid' in aid of tsunami disaster victims at the SLC headquarters yesterday.

Everything that took place within the hour was meaningful. No time was wasted on undue hosannas on individuals, although SLC president Mohan de Silva felt that it was his duty to mention the name of Sumathipala - "there couldn't have been a better person to head the disaster assistance fund committee."

Venturing into the task at hand, De Silva said: "Cricket has thrived because of its large following and the SLC executive committee unanimously agreed that we should come forward and provide support in this hour of need."

SLC along with the national cricketers led by captain Marvan Atapattu have already embarked on a short term and long term plan to help those affected by the tragedy.

The short term plan is to have four refugee camps at Dambulla, Matara, Galle and Badulla. These camps are expected to accommodate displaced people from Trincomalee, Matara, Galle and Batticaloa/Amparai regions.

Each camp will be fully equipped with facilities such as centres for medical and counselling and other requirements for cooking, sanitation etc. Approximately 400 survivors selected by the district secretaries of the four areas will be housed in each camp initially.

The long term plan of the SLC is to set up four Cricket-Aid Villages in four regions of the country (North, South, East and West) to house displaced persons. Each village will comprise 50 houses (200 families) each built at a cost of Rs. 500,000 along with other facilities as community centres, places of religious worship, modern sporting facilities etc.

Sumathipala said that SLC had already been assured of land at Amparai and Matara. Killinochi and Kalutara are the other areas SLC hope to build houses.

He also revealed that SLC had undertaken the task of playing the role of foster parent to 1000 affected children and hoped that one day a foster son raised by SLC would go out and represent the country at cricket.

"Let's hope that a tsunami player will one day come from the tsunami village and play for his country," said Sumathipala."The task ahead of us is enormous. We are not geared to handle a situation like this, but I am confident it can be achieved," he said.

In order to achieve these goals Sumathipala said financial aid to the tune of Rs. 200 million was required. The SLC has initiated a fund raising campaign which includes the following:

* Sending players abroad as Sri Lankan ambassadors who could obtain pledges of aid from international donors and cricket fans;

* Providing the corporate sector an opportunity to visit the refugee camps guided by cricketers and providing them with photo op set and requesting for sponsorships;

* Playing a charity cricket tournament which will be telecast live around the world;

* Sale of merchandising material (caps, T-shirts, autographed bats etc) to members of cricket clubs and cricket fans; and

Creating of a web page which gives details of the SLC program and merchandising material.

Six associations and individuals have already come forward and handed over their pledges to SLC yesterday. The Emirates Cricket Board contributed US$25,000, Plan Sri Lanka - US$10,000, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) - US$3000, Ms Charmaine Jayatilleke - Rs. 25,000, Lalith de Silva - 200 gas cookers and the Russian Embassy and Cultural sector - 100 tents.

Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya officially launched the Cricket-Aid website yesterday, and team mates Mahela Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara each in turn revealed Cricket-Aid's action plans. Atapattu launched the official Cricket-Aid logo along with Sumathipala.

Sumathipala said the wives and mothers of cricketers have also decided to play an active role and have formed a separate committee to help displaced women and children.

A two-minutes silence was observed in memory of the tsunami victims before the event.