The School Cricket Development Programme is being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with the objective of ‘Identifying children with cricket talent at the regional level by improving access to cricket’. In parallel with the programme, the distribution of cricket equipment to selected schools in the Moneragala and Ampara districts was held today (19) at the Moneragala and Ampara District Secretariats under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Sports, Minister Sugath Thilakaratne.
Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne, officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, officials of the Monaragala and Ampara District Secretariats, officials of the District and School Cricket Associations, principals of selected schools, teachers and school students participated in these events.
Participating in the distribution of cricket equipment to schools in the Monaragala District, the Deputy Minister of Sports said that he hopes that providing this cricket equipment will be an incentive for athletes who play sports even under minimal facilities to stay in the sport. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to create opportunities for talented athletes to progress without any difficulties and the Deputy Minister said that the maximum necessary intervention will be made for that.
Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne said that some athletes who live difficult lives and face various difficulties are also seen to have their experiences as a source of strength to achieve sporting achievements, and that resilience is a great quality that a sportsperson should have.
Speaking at the distribution of cricket equipment to selected schools in the Ampara district, the Deputy Minister of Sports said that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will take all necessary measures in the future to develop sports by bringing the facilities that were limited to urban schools to the rural level.
The Deputy Minister told the athletes to make the most of the available resources, develop their skills and advance in sports with dedication. He said that it is his hope to see athletes from Ampara and Monaragala districts go international and that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will pay more attention to the talents of talented children at the rural level.
The Deputy Minister of Sports stated that athletes are not differentiated by ethnicity and that all athletes are recognized as Sri Lankan athletes and that coexistence and reconciliation should be built through sports.
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