By M.H.Yakeem
Ananda College Cricket wing together with the Old Anandian’s Sports Club and the Principal Mr. Lal Dissanayake took an initiative step to launch a trust fund, which was held on the 16 June at the Kularatne hall with a large gathering of parents and Cricket playing students of all age groups.
The launch of this trust fund was to bolster the process of of regaining its Cricket glory of yesteryear, a fund that would support the development of Ananda Cricket in a sustainable manner while recapturing its Cricket glory starting with each and every Anandian and not putting the burden to the parents at a time of an economy crisis the Country is faced with.
By 1981 , Ananda College had produced 5 out of 19 Cricketers who represented the under 19 national team and has consistently produced high performing national level Cricketers to represent mother Lanka at Test and ODI games.
Ananda Cricket is embarking on an ambitious and a challenge drive to bring back the golden era of Ananda Cricket where much admired national Cricketers of repute who did the Country proud, were nurtured and produced to regain this glory, where it is required to ensure a strong and stable financing.
Project ” Road to Glory ” will focus on providing the much required technical support, nutrition, mental strength, motivation and most importantly, instill the required levels of discipline in the upcoming young players, to perform at their highest level in line with this project, the launched trust fund will be managed by former Cricketing stars and professionals from Ananda College, while giving due place to authenticity and transparency at the top.
The ” Trust for the Development of Cricket at Ananda College ” ( TDCAC ) which was launched on the 16 June and a Board of top tier business and professional personnel from the College alumnus have been appointed through a special management unit to steer the College’s cricketing journey.
Commenting on the launch of the trust fund, Mr. Ranjith Pandithage stated, “We are committed to bring back the golden era where we are proudly cheered, not only for our nation but for our schoolmates as well. To assist this long term and sustainable journey, we request all Anandian’s to step forward and support Cricket Ananda with funding- be it Individual level or or at a corporate level . This plea also goes to to all past Anandian’s who resides in Sri-Lanka and overseas as well. This is the start of a new journey that will be memorable in the sporting annals of Ananda College.”
The management unit, the Cricket Wing of Ananda College, branded as ” Cricket Ananda” will be run by several top tier business and professional personnel from College’s alumnus and will drive College’s Cricketing engagement, effectively immediately. Cricket Ananda vies to regain the College’s Cricketing glory of yesteryear while infusing new sporting blood by expanding the College’s Cricketing guard and support the services required for it.
The management of the funds will be directed by the officials of the Ananda College Cricket Wing which comprise of of several distinguished Anandian’s from various fields including National Cricketers, financial professionals and members from the business sector.
The annual accounts of TDCAC will be duly audited by Sri-Lanka offices of multinational professional service network Ernst and Young. The activities of Cricket Ananda will be regularly published on its social media and the website, to effectively engage with the public.
The trustees of TDCAC include Ex- National Cricketer Mr. Sidath Wettimuny, Ex Cricketer administrator Mr. Ana Punchihewa, reputed businessman and distinguished Anandian Mr Ranjith Pandithage, distinguished Anandian from the finance community Mr. Deva Rodrigo, distinguished Anandian from the legal community Mr Prashantha Lal de Alwis, the Executive President of the OBA Mr Bimal Wijayasinghe , and the President of the Old Anandian’s Sports Club Mr. Amitha Munasinghe.
The Ananda College Cricket Wing would be much thankful to M/s Fairfirst Insurance and M/s Maliban by coming forward to Sponsor this prestigious event on behalf of the younger generation .
