Friday Dec 13, 2024
Friday Dec 13, 2024
Saturday, 2 July 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Hambantota Cricket Club successfully concluded a soft ball cricket tournament played at their grounds from 21 - 24 June with the participation of 26 teams from the district.
Supporters of the club and sports activities in general gathered in their numbers on the afternoon of the 24 June to cheer the eventual winners Rey Fighters who are also the All Island soft ball champions. Elmo Rajasooriya Managing Director of Uva Leisure Resorts (Private) Limited and Tulsi Wallooppillai Director MTD Walkers gave away the prizes.
Hambantota Cricket Club has been in existence for over 40 years and has been playing Division 2 cricket achieving moderate success over this period.
President of the Club Shukri is a well known educationalist and sportsman who hails from Hambantota and has coached most of those who played in this tournament. Vice President M.L.M Yehiya an old boy of Zahira College is an energetic sportsman and still represents the club at cricket and football and played an active role in successfully organising this tournament.
The officials of the club expressed satisfaction at having secured a sponsorship package for the next three years which would enable them not only to promote cricket and football at different levels in the district but also provide improved facilities for members and visiting teams and better ground and playing conditions.
The sponsorship package was provided by Uva Leisure Resorts (Private) Limited, a consortium of businessmen from Malaysia and the United Kingdom awarded the facility to build the airport hotel at Hambantota International Airport, Mattala and expect to be involved in activities in Hambantota for many a decade in the future.
The hotel will be of four star category consisting 200 rooms and has all modern facilities to cater for the International business traveller and tourist plus meet accommodation requirements of the many visitors who will visit Sooriyawewa for Cricket T20/20 World cup, the South Asian games and other sporting events planned. The hotel will be ready for the opening of the airport during the latter part of 2012.
Uva Leisure Resorts (Private) Limited was happy to provide this sponsorship package to promote sports as well as be a part of the Commonwealth Games bid for 2018 and contribute towards the success of the development of Hambantota.
