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Another piece of cricket history for the little Lankans
Cricket crazy Sri Lanka will create another milestone when they host the 2006 Golden Oldies Cricket Festival here.

This was announced by its Festival Director Sri Lankan-born Harry Solomons at a media briefing held at the Tourist Hotel auditorium, chaired by Arjuna Ranatunga the Deputy Minister of Industries and Tourism on Dec. 2. The others who attended the briefing were Chandra Wickremasinghe Chairman Connivance Holdings, Dr. P. Ramanujam Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Mohan de Silva (President Sri Lanka Cricket), Udaya Nanayakkara (Chairman Tourist Board), Hussain Jayah (Sri Lankan Airlines).

Solomons though living Down Under has done much for the uplift of Sri Lanka's image on and off the field. regularly assisting the less affluent schools with men and material. Profits accrued from this Cricket Festival, too will be diverted to help them.

Harry is also the Managing Director of the world renowned Kingsgrove Sports Centre in Sydney. He worked hard for three years to achieve this objective. For the first time it will be held in the sub-continent. It’s going to be a great tourist attraction via cricket. He said some of the best cricketers of yester-year (over 40) will take part in this global event. He said over 50 teams and over 1000 fans will be here. He was confident that Sri Lanka could rake in foreign exchange over Rs. 300 million. More than cricket - 'The Golden Oldies' philosophy is Fun, Friendship and Fraternity. In the process it builds a permanent bridge for amity among all races.

Air New Zealand is the owner of the 'Oldies Cricket Festival'. He also said lot of planning has to be done in advance i.e. hotels, venues etc. There will be a committee managed by a festival director including a secretary to streamline the progress. The committee will seek the coorporation of Departments of Tourism and Sport and the Colombo Municipality. The city of Colombo is the hub for tourism. Stephanie Cooray is my secretary and an executive of Kingsgrove Sport Centre. She will co-ordinate from Australia.

Where are you going to find the grounds. SLC President Mohan de Silva is binding upfront and giving all support. The leading schools (Playing fields in Colombo will be utilised. Each participating team will receive kits after three games. These kits in turn will be donated to the schools who made their grounds available. While the other kits will go to the underprivileged schools in the rural districts. Any profits derived from this tournament will be given to the local community to prop junior cricket.

Arjuna Ranatunga who helped the country to climb the Everest in 1996 to win the World Cup has been appointed the Tournament Festival Ambassador. Alan Border, in all probability may come for the festival, along with Doug Walters, Jeff Thompson etc. Border was the Festival Ambassador, in the last tournament held in Gold Coast, Queensland, early this year.

Arjuna Ranatunga, who spoke earlier promised to give all support and encouragement through his Ministry. Sri Lanka has made a name in cricket. It’s going to be a week of friendly cricket and played in the best of traditions and Lankan hospitality. He commended the efforts of Harry Solomons and his committee for making Sri Lanka the first venue in the East. The first Festival here will reach greater heights. Another piece of cricket history for the little Lankans.

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