Maharagama boys take on Aussies

Australian High Commissioner Ms Kathy Klugman is about to pull a full toss to the fence. (Pic Sanka Widanagama)

A team from the Australian High Commission played a friendly cricket match against young cricketers from the Child Protection Society (CPS) Boys Home, Maharagama yesterday. The annual match was organized to encourage public support for the CPS boys and girls homes and foster friendship and development through sport.

The Child Protection Society was established in 1928 as the first child protection organization in Sri Lanka and South Asia and is engaged in protecting and promoting child welfare.

Participating at the event the Australian High Commissioner Ms Kathy Klugman said "It has been a privilege for the Australian High Commission to be able to play with the enthusiastic team from the CPS boys home.

I am pleased that so many others from the wider CPS community and the Sri Lankan cricket community were able to join us. The main aim of today was to encourage children from the CPS homes and to raise awareness of their situation. I hope we have gone some way to achieving that outcome."

The CPS Boys Home team was captained by sixteen year old K.A. Ishara Ruwan Kumara who has lived at the home for the past four years.

The cricket match was attended by over 200 people including members of the Sri Lanka women's cricket team, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, Australian High Commission staff and family members, the president of the boys’ home, board members and trustees of the Child Protection Society and well wishers.