Former Sri Lanka national cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Chaminda Vaas have got together in an initiative to support the daily wage earners of Sri Lanka who are facing severe difficulties due to COVID-19 pandemic.
With the ongoing lockdown, many people have lost their method of earnings and are in a difficult position to feed their families. The initiative will help the daily wage earners by providing essential goods.
Initiated by Dr. Krishan Thalagahage and team, Vaas and Mahanama have joined the cause, urging the public to donate essentials such as rice, noodles, dhal, salmon, dry fish, sprats, sugar, chilies, curry powder and biscuits.
“They are our own fellow citizens, if we don’t feed them, who will? Let’s get together to make a difference” – Roshan Mahanama
“You can always make a difference in the lives of others” – Chaminda Vaas
Sri Lanka Cricket legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene have joined the fight to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic by helping out people in need of essential food items.
The pair was involved in donating dry rations to those inconvenienced by the prevailing situation, including citizens in the North, as well as 600 families in the Kegalle and Rukmalgama areas with the assistance of the Divisional Secretariats and Grama Sevaka officers.
They were joined by the Magnum Club, with whom they worked hand in hand to complete the task. On Monday (30th), around 5000 dry ration packs were distributed, and it is expected that this distribution will be carried out on Tuesday 31st, as well.
MCC president Kumar Sangakkara finished his mandatory self-quarantine period after returning from UK and joined the venture afterwards.
Former Test Captain Mahela Jayawardene was also vocal on social media on how the government should handle the situation in this time of crisis, as well as how the public should respond to the pandemic without panicking.
Both players have posted video clips of themselves on Twitter, requesting the general public to stay at home and perform their responsibility towards society.
World’s highest wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan has made a generous contribution of Rs. Five million to Government’s efforts to fight COVID-19 epidemic. With the country at a standstill following the island wide curfew, the government has too many things at its hand and Murali hopes his contribution would somewhat ease the burden.
“At this hour, the government cannot look at everything. So, it is important that those who can like us help the government in whatever the way we can. I hope others too will support the government in their effort to fight this epidemic,” Muralitharan told The Island.
“I would like to urge cricket fans and all Sri Lankans to follow instructions given by authorities. Most important thing is stay at home. Don’t panic. The next week or so is going to be crucial. There will be shortcomings but we have to adjust,” Murali added.
“I am proud of the way we have fought this crisis. The government, the doctors, the military and all public servants have done a remarkable job. Look at the way some of the developed countries struggling to fight this epidemic. We should all support them by being disciplined and staying at home,” Muralitharan added.
Former Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya provided aid for some of the neediest citizens in Colombo who have been affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Essential food items were donated by the Sri Lankan legend with the assistance of SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon and Prof. Arjuna de Silva for the needy families identified by the police.
Sri Lanka veteran seamer Suranga Lakmal has jumped on the bandwagon to help people who are struggling financially and due to the lack of access to resources, which is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lakmal and few players from his club, the Tamil Union Cricket & Athletic Club, have joined to help people in the Anuradhapura district by providing them with essential goods.
The players had helped more than 450 families in Madagama and 3 other rural villages on the 28th of March.
Sri Lanka cricketer Dhammika Prasad’s efforts to help the poor and the needy, during the world’s darkest hour in recent decades, need to be commended. Prasad has so far helped out 1000 families, giving away food rations for a week. He has appealed to friends and family to contribute so that he can reach the mark of helping 2000 families by next week.
Prasad has been helped by a few likeminded players and neighbors. His house looks as if one of those Disaster Relief Centers where essentials are gathered and then redistributed among those in need. Despite curfew being imposed, with the help of Police, Prasad himself moves around to give away the food packs putting his own health in danger. Having witnessed the plight, he appeals that a lot more needs to be done and all those who are in a position to help need to join him in his efforts to fight hunger. Not just with food packs, he has also parted with money generously helping those sportsmen who are not as affluent as cricketers to look into their daily needs like medicine.
Former Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal has also taken the initiative to distribute dry rations for 60 families in the Thalangama Grama Seva Division on 31st March.
Chandimal has been vocal on Social Media as well, urging public to stay at home and be responsible in these difficult times.
Sri Lanka national cricketer Kusal Mendis was seen distributing daily essentials around Central Colombo today, helping them survive the adversities caused by the island-wide curfew which is imposed as a measure to fight the Covid-19 global pandemic.
The packs of dry rations and daily household needs were given away to 2 elder’s homes and 1 children’s orphanage in Maradana and Slave Island on request by the Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force.
The donations are a contribution of 9 present and former cricketers while Mendis took the forefront in getting the donations done appropriately. The cricketers who contributed for the noble cause are as follows,
- Mahela Jayawardene
- Avishka Fernando
- Sadeera Samarawickrama
- Kumar Sangakkara
- Angelo Mathews
- Chamara Kapugedera
- Dhammika Prasad
- Kusal Mendis
- Ron Chandraguptha
Former Sri Lanka skipper and veteran opener Upul Tharanga has joined in in tackling the issues brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic by lending a helping hand to those in need in these tough times.
Tharanga has donated dry rations and essential goods for the people of the rural village of Kondagala in Ambalangoda, supporting 100 families in the village.
Former national all-rounder and current manager and selector of the Sri Lanka U19 team, Farveez Maharoof joined the extended list of national cricketing stars who have stepped up to help their countrymen get through this difficult phase.
Maharoof helped 40 needy families in Poruthota with dry rations and daily household needs. He was also seen distributing the packs all by himself.
“We all know that the lives of so many families in Sri Lanka and also in the whole world have been badly affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Also Poruthota in Negombo is an area which has been completely locked down, hence making the lives of the people living there even worse. I’m happy that I was able to help them by providing dry rations and some daily household needs”.
He also said that he’s willing to help more needy people in the near future, “I also hope to help more affected people with the help of some of my close friends.”
Current Sri Lanka cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne has jumped on the bandwagon to help those facing difficulty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thirimanne has made donations to provide dry rations and essential goods for the people in rural villages in Nikawaratiya, which have helped more than 50 families.
Sri Lanka limited overs opening batsman Avishka Fernando turned 22 on Sunday the 5th of April 2020 and spent the day helping families affected due to the prevailing situation in the country.
Fernando visited several needy families in the Gampaha area and helped them by donating dry rations. He was accompanied by the STF to successfully distribute the packs to the deserving families.
Publication Credit- thepapare.com
