Tokyo Cement Group: Empowering Rural Sri Lankans

The 12th and final South Cricket Coaching Camp for this year was held at the Seenigama Surrey Oval last month (September 2020). 37 schoolboy cricketers from rural schools (U13 /17) and 06 coaches took part in the all-day training programme which provides high quality training to young aspiring cricketers, who would otherwise not have access to such opportunities. 

This initiative by the Foundation of Goodness and Tokyo Cement Group, is guided by renowned coach Hemantha Devapriya and aims to help talented young cricketers who are brimming with the potential to excel in sports but who are limited by the lack of opportunity and facilities. The Coaching camps have also been conducted in the North and East, expanding its reach and impact on rural youth. Initiatives such as these have produced national and internationally recognised cricketers from our Sports Academy, such as Pulina Tharanga, PH Tharindu Kaushal, Ramesh Mendis, Navod Paranawithana, Kavisha Dilhari, Umesha Thimashini and many more!

This would all not be possible without the patronage of our long term friend and sponsor of the Foundation of Goodness, Tokyo Cement Group, who has been supporting our community development activities for over five years, especially in developing rural sports throughout the island. Over the years, they have empowered many under-served communities to achieve their dreams and aspirations. 

Just a few of their extraordinary projects include supporting the Murali Harmony Cup Cricket Tournament from 2013 – 2016 and partnering with FoG to build 30 outdoor cricket practice nets in schools across the North and East of Sri Lanka- an initiative of Sri Lanka Cricket. They also sponsor the monthly Cricket Coaching Clinics in the North, East and South of Sri Lanka, as well as funding the Foundation of Goodness’ cricket development programme in Seenigama. In addition to this, Tokyo Cement Group also conducts their Coral Reef Conservation project along with FoG’s Dive for Good Centre, training and facilitating the Coral Replanting Project in Seenigama. They have now initiated talks to implement their own Village Heartbeat Empowerment Centre, for which the way forward is currently being discussed.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tokyo Cement Group for supporting us through the years and encouraging us to reach out and transform the lives of many of our fellow Sri Lankans.