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Solomons spearheads aid campaign for SLC
By Bernie Wijesekera
Harry Solomons from Ruhuna - man for all seasons now living Down Under has organized a Cricketers' Walk on Sunday (Jan. 23) today for Sri Lanka tsunami victims in aid of Sri Lanka Crickets' Disaster Relief Fund. Harry speaking to the Sunday Times from Kingsgrov Sports Centre, in Sydney said - "it's a massive project for which 5,000 - 10,000 people from all walks of life will participate.

The New South Wales (Cricket), headed by David Gilbert (CEO) the former Aussie paceman, has announced a donation of $75,000/- towards the fund - embarked mainly for orphanages. They will monitor the funds".

Solomons has done much for his motherland on and off the field on humanitarian grounds. Most of them the less affluent rural schools with men and material. This project - the Cricketers' Walk by Solomons co-ordinated and supported by Cricket N.S.W. to assist and muster support to boost the coffers of SLC Aid Fund. He said he was confident that it would be an instant success for the poor, who have lost everything and some of the children have lost their parents, breadwinners and rendered homeless.

Past Aussie stars - Mark Waugh, Len Pascoe Geoff Lawson, Brendon Julian, Shane Lee, (Fox Sports), the Sydney Swans Football team etc. will take part which will add flame to this project "Charity for all Races". Besides over 30 Aussie players, and the ones who will not take part in the ODI between Australia and Pakistan on Jan. 23 will join hands. Harry said, Lankans Dilip Kumar, Dr. Siri Kannangara, Errol Graham, and the Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation in Sydney will join forces.

Mahela Jayawardena will be a special guest of Sydney Cricket Ground Trust ODI match between Australia - Pakistan on the same day (Jan. 23). While skipper Marvan Atapattu guest Cricket of NSW, at the Alan Davidson NSW hospitality room. Solomons will handle all arrangements for the two players. They left on Thursday. The SLC President, Mohan de Silva, too will be there for this Cricket Walk.

He commended Harry, for his great effort that too to help the SLC in this Aid Fund. Being a past rugby player a former planter at Talduwa has been in the forefront to assist the country in their hour of need.

Harry says it has got the blessings from Cricket Australia to be staged at Centennial Park. Steve Waugh the patron of the girls Leprosy Home in Calcutta will lead from the front along with the likes of Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan etc. Harry states no video replays for stars to walk this time. Mohan de Silva left for Australia on Jan. 19 (Wednesday) will be back on Jan. 27. Thilanga Sumathipala, Chairman Relief Committee, praised Harry for his humanitarian act.

Former Sri Lanka coach Bruce Yardley and the present coach John Dyson is in the midst for this Relief Fund. It's a Cricket Legends Walk for Sri Lanka Tsunami victims. Some of the biggest names will make a grand entry to the SCG before the ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Solomons has found a sponsor to carry a 40-foot container to Sri Lanka for Cricket Aid clothes, food, and medicines collected at Kingsgrov Sports Centre.

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