Using sport for a greater good — that is what Sri Lankan cricket legends Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakarra strongly believe in.
They are in Singapore to raise awareness for the Foundation of Goodness, a charitable organisation which aims to narrow the gap between urban and rural life in Sri Lanka by tackling poverty.
The day’s events started with a T20 match between Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) and the Unity Squad, made up of 14 young players, handpicked by Sri Lanka’s top cricketers.
The Unity Squad won by 50 runs.
This charity event was made more memorable, as the iconic cricket club also celebrated its 160th birthday today.
Undoubtedly, the stars of the day were fast top-spinner Muralitharan, and the world’s leading batsman, Sangakarra.
More than S$10,000 was donated to the Foundation by the SCC cricket section.
The proceeds will be used to uplift the lives of rural communities in Sri Lanka.
Sangakarra said, “We directly impact on 20,000 people in Sri Lanka annually, we have a centre in the South of Sri Lanka where we provide free sporting facilities, from swimming to cricket, to other sports, plus free vocational training, free computer studies, pharmacy, dentistry, medical facilities and so on.
“We are also trying to replicate that in the North, post-war, where there is an urgent need of similar facilities.”
This article was first published in CNA.