SLC call for EGM to adopt 2015 accounts

Thilanga Sumathipala

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, held at the SLC yesterday a host of key decisions were made.

Following is a summary of the decisions and initiatives announced at the Ex-Co.

EGM on 18 June to adopt 2015 audited accounts

The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket has called for an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) of Sri

Lanka Cricket on 18 June 2016.

The purpose of the EGM was to complete the remaining items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting, including the adoption of the Annual Report and Audited Statement of Accounts of 2015.

SLC engages in transformation of the establishment; heads toward possible incorporation

Sri Lanka Cricket is pleased to announce that it is engaged in a transformation of the establishment, leading to constitutional changes, and even, possibly incorporation.

A five-year Corporate Strategic Plan has been envisaged and professional input from reputed corporate management specialists has been sought to implement the said changes.

To this end, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed M/s. SJMS Associates to facilitate this process, and call for Expressions of Interests from recognised Corporate Management Specialists.

A high level Corporate Planning and Governance Committee will be appointed to drive this process.

Cricket Aid to be re-launched at Charity Fundraiser to raise funds for CKD pandemic 

Sri Lanka Cricket is proud to re-launch its charity arm ‘Cricket Aid’ at a charity dinner to be held at the Long Room, Lord’s Cricket Ground on 4 June 2016. Whilst a plate is to be priced at £ 200, a silent auction will be held at the charity evening to raise funds for an earmarked national project – the elimination of CKD.

Incepted in December 2004 following the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami, within 24 hours Cricket Aid

dispatched its first consignment of relief, with national and international cricketers coming together in the spirit of oneness and unity. The international world of cricket chipped in with the ICC, World Vision and Cricket Australia arranging a benefit match at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds followed by a charity dinner. The one-day match between the World XI and Asian XI played on 10 January 2005, guaranteed a pre-match placement of A$ 500,000 pledged to Sri Lanka through World Vision.

Sport is a language that crosses all barriers, and cricket in Sri Lanka is a language not merely of sport but of courage, pride and resilience. The clarion call of Cricket Aid was able to gather resources to establish four villages in the north, south, east and west of the country complete with 50 houses, places of worship, playground, library and IT center. A foster care program for 1,000-orphaned children was also established through Cricket Aid.

While taking care of material needs, Cricket Aid also provided psychological support for the many thousands traumatised by the devastating losses they suffered and the desolation they were subjected to, with the assistance of Green Cross in the US.

Sri Lanka was devastated during the tsunami in 2004 and is now facing a new danger; Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD. Statistics indicate that 2,000 people die of this disease, while around 20,000 people are admitted and re-admitted to hospitals for CKD.

The epidemic is believed to be caused by the lack of or limited access to clean drinking water, use of low

quality fertilizer which seeps into water sources and the lack of medical facilities such as dialysis machines to treat those afflicted.

While limited facilities necessitate priority to younger patients, older patients have vastly more limited resources at their disposal. Poverty prevents patients on dialysis treatment from receiving the right

nutrition, and the situation is further aggravated when bread winners suffer from CKD, which plunges their dependents into greater despair and poverty.

Cricket Aid is working closely with the relevant government, non-government and medical channels to prepare a comprehensive action plan to provide support and resources to end this devastating pandemic.