President of the Marylebone Cricket Club Kumar Sangakkara presents the next generation of Sri Lankan cricketers with MCC Scholarships

15 promising young cricketers were presented with the prestigious MCC Scholarships by FoG Trustee and incumbent president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, Kumar Sangakkara. 12 boys and 03 girls who performed exceptionally during the previous season were identified to receive the 2019/2020 scholarships.

All the players selected from around Sri Lanka, are still in school and have been ear-marked as future prospects. The Scholarships aim to support their education and sporting careers.

Our Congratulations to Navod Paranawithana, Kaveesha Imasha, Jeewaka Shashen, Pawan Sandesh, Pavindu Nadeeshan, Janith Kaushal, Sudeera Weeraratne, Sonal Ransara, Malsha Tharupathi, Chihan Kalindu, Lohan Aroshana De Soyza, Viyakanth Viyaskanth, Umasha Themashani, Sachini Nisansala and Telishiya Chaturangani on receiving the MCC 2019/2020 Scholarships.

This is the seventh consecutive year the Marylebone Cricket Club has supported rural cricketers in Sri Lanka through the scholarship scheme and we thank the home of cricket for their support in empowering rural talent!

*National Under 19 players Navod Paranavithana, Chihan Kalindu and Kavindu Nadeeshan could not attend the ceremony due to the national team training schedule, therefore their parents received the letters on their behalf.

The Marylebone Cricket Club: a life long friend of the Foundation of Goodness

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has been a supporter of the Foundation since the outset, a partnership that now spans over a decade. We are truly grateful for this incredible relationship, noteworthy for the longstanding sponsorship on the MCC Centre of Excellence that has enabled us to take great strides toward the development of rural Sri Lanka.

The MCC Centre of Excellence was declared open in 2007 thanks to the compassionate response of the Marylebone Cricket Club to the plight of villagers in the Seenigama region affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Now, the Centre provides for over 10,000 beneficiaries annually, building skills, creating opportunities and increasing the confidence of rural communities to achieve a bright future for themselves and their neighbours. The MCC also helped establish the Sri Sumangala Lords Cricket Grounds in nearby Hikkaduwa which gives young people the skills and exposure that is reaping rewards for individuals and teams at local, regional and even international level. Previously playing on a gravel pitch, the teams now have an immaculate ground, with indoor practice nets, pavilion and changing rooms to practice their game, host events and run regular coaching programs.

The MCC continues to maintain a wonderfully supportive relationship with us and sponsors up-and-coming cricketers every year with a sports scholarship aimed at producing national level cricketers from a rural background.