“One thing I want to tell all you promising cricketers from both schools is never to look at what you don't have, but to look at the positive side of what you have and then work on them.. Work on your strengths to get to where you want to go, don't look at the negative side of things.”

~ Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka Cricket Team's fastest bowler

When the Foundation of Goodness talks of the skill and talent amongst the rural village youth and their potential to excel if they follow their passions and dreams, it doesn't do so in vain. It is possible. We know so, because Sri Lanka cricketers, Lasith Malinga and Upul Tharanga are examples of exactly that. At 23 years and 21 years respectively, these two young cricketers have well exceeded expectations. Malinga, educated at the Devapathiraja School in Rathgama, is currently the fastest bowler on the Sri Lanka cricket team and Tharanga, educated at the Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda, is the team's opening batsman.

 
Village children gathered in Seenigama to see the stars

On 26th August, Malinga and Tharanga travelled to Seenigama to present aspiring young cricketers from both schools with cricket equipment (which included professional quality cricket bats, balls, wickets and knee pads) kindly donated by Asitha Jayaweera, former captain of the Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team. Now a UK resident and member of the UK Sri Lanka Cricket representative committee, Jayaweera travelled to Sri Lanka to present these gifts and ensure that they were given to those in need. Through his various contacts, Jayaweera heard of the successful community development work that the Foundation of Goodness is carrying out in the region and approached them to facilitate the distribution.

 
Malinga addressing the kids (left) and the quality of the equipment received (right)

Devapathiraja School in Rathgama and Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda were chosen as the recipient schools due to their proximity to Seenigama and the fact that they these village schools are poor and struggle with resources for their students. Crowds of children gathered at the AVIVA Community Centre in Seenigama to greet their national heroes. Approximately 80 children from the Under-13, -15 and -19 age group categories benefited from this very kind gesture, which will no doubt greatly enhance their cricket skills and opportunities.

 
Distributing equipment (left) and students eagerly waiting to receive their gifts (right)

The stars related to the children their stories of growing up in the region without access to proper facilities and equipment, and nevertheless, through determination and faith in themselves, they made it to the top. A very touching day indeed, to have the successful cricketers returning to their region to encourage and inspire the future Malingas and Tharangas of this country.

As our founder, Kushil Gunasekera commented, "It is amazing that cricketers of their callibre... achieved success without having had the training facilities that cricketers in affluent countries enjoyed". What with such generous donations as this equipment and the soon-to-be-completed Seenigama Sports Centre sponsored by the Surrey County Cricket Club, the village youth will certainly have improved chances of success. Facilities available to young sportspersons will include a cricket ground with a state-of-the-art cricket pitch, indoor cricket nets, a 25 metre swimming pool (a first for the region, kindly sponsored by Bryan Adams), a gymnasium, change rooms, a club house, offices and much more.

 
Lasith Malinga (left) and Upul Tharanga (right)

It is with extreme gratitude that we thank Jayaweera for generously donating the equipment, Jayantha Kudahetty for facilitating the distribution and Malinga and Tharanga for their inspiration and for personally handing the cricket items to the children.

May the village youth continue to be blessed with such kind deeds and may the future stars of the region have the opportunity to pursue their talents.