The partnership between Tokyo Cement Group and The Foundation of Goodness, a far-reaching charitable foundation working in rural Sri Lanka to unearth cricketing talent. By providing youth from every part of the country access to the game of cricket, this affiliation lays the foundation of brotherhood and respect which contributes towards building the nation, which is Tokyo Cement’s primary commitment as the leader in the industry.
The partnership begun in 2014, by setting up training facilities in Hikkaduwa and Seenigama; two grounds developed and managed under the patronage of Tokyo Cement Group near the home base of FoG. The grounds are used for Cricket Coaching Camps for talented girls and boys from remote backgrounds to reach their aspirations through a successful sporting career. Trainer of Sri Lanka’s National Women’s Cricket Team Hemantha Devapriya coaches over 600 promising cricketers from over 15 regional schools at these sessions each year.
The funding also sees 40 school cricketers from the South taking part in an elite training program to shape them in to National-level Players. At present, it comprises of 11 young girls and boys in the U-13 group, 12 in the U-15 group and 17 in the U-17 and U-19 groups who are groomed to proceed to higher levels with continued high-class coaching and special physical fitness programs.
To date, the Southern Cricket Academy has produced multiple star-class players who have set Sri Lanka’s name in gold standard on the cricket record books at national and international levels.
The success of the Southern Coaching Camp at identifying budding talent saw it being extended to the North since August 2017. The program is now held in Jaffna and other key areas such as Killinochchi, Oddusuddan, Mankulam, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar as well, in search of future cricketing sensations. Plans are underway to extend the program in the Eastern Province, giving young cricketers from Batticaloa and Trincomalee a chance to hone their skills. This program personifies Tokyo Cement’s belief in the ability of the game of cricket to build bridges across geographic, ethnic and social barriers, personifying the game’s true spirit.
