Braving the rainy weather and cloudy skies, Sri Lankan cricket fans turned up at the East Coast Cricket Festival in New Jersey last Saturday. The organizers persisted, the rain gods relented, and the premier Sri Lankan sports and cultural event in the US ended up providing bright sunshine, high-class cricket, and top-notch entertainment to the close to a thousand spectators.

The first round of the tournament featured ten matches involving Old Boys’ teams from Ananda, Nalanda, Royal, S. Thomas', Trinity, St. Peter's, Maris Stella, Mahanama, Isipathana, and Thurstan colleges. The semifinals saw matchups between traditional rivals: Nalanda beat Ananda by a single run in the first semifinal, and Royal overcame S. Thomas’ in the second. In the final, Royal beat Nalanda to record its eighth victory in the tournament.

Ambassador Mohan Pieris, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations graced the event as the guest of honor. Dr. Lakmal Boteju, president of the Ananada College OBA (USA-EC), presented the Col. Henry Steel Olcott Challenge Cup to the winners.    

Ananda College Old Boys’ Association, USA-EC has been organizing the Cricket Festival since 2006. In addition to the cricket the event features stalls serving Sri Lankan cuisine, kid’s games and activities, and also a free health clinic organized by Sri Lankan doctors. All proceeds from the tournament go towards charitable projects.

The 17th edition of the East Coast Cricket Festival is planned for 2024 June.