In a bid to expand access to cricket and identify young talent at the grassroots level, the Ministry of Youth and Sports today distributed cricket equipment to 30 selected schools in the Western Province that currently do not offer cricket.
The distribution was held under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne at the Ministry premises, as part of the School Cricket Development Programme.
The initiative aims to build a strong foundation for a future national team while encouraging the development of cricket as an industry. Each selected school received cricket kits including batting and wicket-keeping gear.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Thilakaratne emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to supporting sports development by providing necessary infrastructure and resources, particularly to students from underprivileged backgrounds.
The programme is expected to be rolled out across all districts, with the goal of ensuring that every child interested in cricket has the opportunity to pursue the sport, regardless of their economic status.
Officials from the Ministry, principals, teachers, and students from the selected schools participated in the event. (Newswire)
