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Festival of Cricket
once again provided a day of high
quality cricket on Sunday the 11th of
July, with Winchmore Hill Cricket Club
Grounds, London inundated with fans from
across the United Kingdom and beyond.
Festival of Cricket – UK celebrated its
22nd year as the biggest annual
gathering of Sri Lankans and their
friends in the UK and Europe.
All present at the
festival had a day of fun and excitement
with their friends and families,
watching homegrown excellent cricketing
talent. Teams from 25 Sri Lankan Old
Boys’ Associations (OBA) played a
limited-over knockout tournament on 3
pitches simultaneously, creating an
atmosphere of inter-school 'Big Match'
rivalry, as in Sri Lanka. Alongside the
boundary lines were cheering
enthusiastic supporters, youngsters
dancing and singing to live band music,
picnickers relaxing in the lovely
summers day whilst tasting varieties of
Sri Lankan and International food, and
face-painting and entertainment on offer
for children too.
Maris Stella
College OBA-UK team was crowned
Champions of the Festival of Cricket
tournament for the first time and
received the 'OBA Challenge Trophy'
whilst, St. Benedict’s College OBA-UK,
were the runners-up.
Nalanda OBA-UK won
the Plate and the runners-up were
Richmond College OBA-UK. Man of the
Tournament award was won by Ranga Dias
of Maris Stella OBA-UK and Best Batsman
Award was won by Benedictine Carman
Mapatuna. Maris Stella OBA-UK was named
the Team of the Tournament too.
Eransha Fernandopulle (C), Charm
Jayasinghe, Amal Weerasinghe, Supun
Kurukulasuriya, Kevin Anthony, Chaminda
de Silva, Kivan Fernand, Sandun Dias,
Ranga Dias and Alwyn Martinesz played
for the Maris Stella OBA-UK historic
winning team.
There were many
prizes and surprises at the event. FOC
Grand Charity that annually helps
National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka,
and Cancer Research UK, raffled and
auctioned SriLankan Airline return
tickets to Sri Lanka and more gifts from
other donors.
The Chief Guest was
His Excellency Justice Nihal Jayasinghe,
High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the
UK. Other eminent guests were the
Chairman of Bank of Ceylon, Dr. Gamini
Wickramasinghe, Mr. Cyril Madadeniya,
the Country Manager Bank of Ceylon –
London, The Chief Executive Officer of
SM Call Dialog, Mr Sam Seinthan, the
Country Manager UK and Ireland for
SriLankan Air-Lines, Mr. Chanaka Olagama,
and Mayoress of London Borough of
Enfield Councillor Ms. Jayne Buckland
and Chief Superintendent of Police David
Tucker the Commander for London Borough
of Enfield. Mr. Chaminda Vaas and Mr.
Sanath Jayasuriya MP also made
appearances and took part in the
presentation ceremony of FoC 2010.
The main Sponsor was
the Bank of Ceylon, and the co-sponsor
were SM Call Dialog and SriLankan
Airlines whilst Sri Lanka Tourist Board
was the other sponsor.
The FoC 2010
President Azahim Mohamed together with
the Festival of Cricket Executive
Committee 2010, send their grateful
thanks to one and all who supported and
attended the 22nd Annual Festival of
Cricket, for their efforts to make the
event a great success. The Festival of
Cricket Executive Committee also extend
a warm welcome to all Sri Lankans to get
together in unity and friendship to
enjoy our much loved game of Cricket in
years to come!
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