Sri Lanka Cricket’s magnanimous gesture to hospitals
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has attracted more brickbats than praise over the years due to their handling of finances and other cricket-related matters, but its act of generosity at a time hospitals across the country are pleading for life-saving medicine deserves high praise.
SLC decided to donate US$ 2 million–approximately over Rs 720 million–to support the country’s health sector to purchase essential medicine. The board said that half the money will be donated to the ‘Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children,’ to buy essential medicines required for pediatric care for children while the other half will be given to the cancer hospitals to purchase medicine for patients.
The cancer hospital is not only in need of life-saving medicines but is short of IV kits to administer chemotherapy treatments. Thus this magnanimous gesture of SLC will give hope to hundreds of patients, including many children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. SLC should be admired for the gesture which could encourage other top corporates to follow suit.
“Sri Lanka Cricket is extremely happy to make this donation at this moment of need for the country, and we will give our fullest support to our nation to overcome these challenging times,” said SLC President Shammi Silva.
The funds will be immediately donated to the officials of the respective institutions, taking into consideration the urgent need for such assistance.
“We feel, as an iconic sporting brand, it is our responsibility to come forward to help our people, who have been supporting Sri Lanka Cricket and our players, unconditionally, at all times,”’ said Mohan de Silva, Secretary of SLC.