The UK Armed Forces Cricket Association (UKAFCA) has arrived this week, as part of their tour of India and Sri Lanka.
The team will tour Colombo, Dombagoda, Seenigama, and Welisara, playing a series of friendly matches against teams in Sri Lanka.
A British High Commission spokesperson said, “cricket embodies so many great things about the people to people links between the UK and Sri Lanka”.
“The values of cricket such as fair play, teamwork, commitment, and responsibility are universal furthermore apply to so many aspects of life. We are looking forward to the tour”
During their time in Sri Lanka, the team will visit The Foundation of Goodness project headquarters and flagship venue, and the MCC Centre of Excellence and Sports Academy in Seenigama. The Foundation of Goodness works towards empowering rural underprivileged communities. The team will get involved with environmental projects, and provide coaching for some of the boys and girls supported by the Foundation.
The Foundation of Goodness was established in 1999 and has worked extensively to rebuild the village of Seenigama and its surroundings in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami which devastated the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans. Today their empowerment programmes have expanded to reach over 31,000 beneficiaries from 400 villages across the country annually. In partnership with Sri Lankan cricketing legends Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold and Kumar Sangakkara who is also the current MCC President, the Foundation’s development activities have now extended to the North, East, North Central and Central provinces of Sri Lanka.
The development programmes include education, vocational training, women’s empowerment, village infrastructure, water and sanitation, and reconciliation through sports.
The UKAFCA is the governing body for cricket within the UK’s Armed Forces.
Its main aim is to provide the Armed Forces’ cricketers, both men and women, with the opportunity to achieve success at the highest level of the domestic game and to stretch their individual and collective ability.
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