Former Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) president Thilanga Sumathipala monday launched his humanitarian projects of distributing dry rations for the needy amid the deadly Coronavirus outbreak.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has been wreaking havoc all over the globe and is now engulfing South Asia including India, Bangladesh and Pakistan in its vile grip. As a result, many public personalities across the world have been coming forward to do their bit to help the fightback. Cricket is not untouched with the most recent example coming out of Bangladesh where 27 premier cricketers including the likes of ODI captain Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim have decided to donate half of their monthly salaries to help fight the Covid-19 disaster. In India too, prominent present and former players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane have pledged their support in fighting against Coronavirus Pandemic, by contributing to Prime Minister relief fund.
“Being a parliamentarian, Honorable Mr. Sumathipala has initiated this humanitarian projects and in the first phase, 10 tons of rice has been distributed among 200 temples” one of his close associate at Punchi Borella told Cricket Age.
In distributing ration among needy families, Colombo By Jeep – an innovative initiative of Nishantha Abeysekara – also played the pivotal role.
“Yesterday, from my end, we distributed ration through my three jeeps to some of the temples, so poor and needy people can pick the ration from there. Obviously, Thilanga has big network, so i am certain that he has made it sure to reach to all the needy families” Nishantha Abeysekara told Cricket Age.
Sumathipala, one of the most prominent personality in Sri Lanka Cricket history, is planning to extend his humanitarian project in outside Colombo as well in it’s second phase.
On Monday, Sri Lanka cricket team also made a financial grant to the Homagama Base Hospital, to buy Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPE) for its health staff. The national team led by skipper Dimuth Karunaratne made this donation following a request made by the hospital, which is operated as a treatment center for Covid-19 suspected patients.
Like any other part of the world, the deadly virus has created havoc in Sri Lanka as well, with more than 120 people have tested positive and two deaths till Tuesday.
