[Pata]

Ashan Tharanga a budding under-15 cricketer from Sri Devananda College in Ambalangoda was recently adjudged the most outstanding cricketer of his age group.

Tharanga is predicted as player of the future and has excelled by taking 42 wickets with his leg-spin bowling while scoring over 400 runs during the season.

He is also part of the Seenigama village team and is presently undergoing training at the Sports Academy of the Foundation of Goodness set up by former cricketer and Cricket Board secretary Kushil Gunasekera.

Tharanga is an orphan boy and was known to the Foundation even before the tsunami. He received a scholarship to further his education through kind donations and his story is inspiring other kids in the village.

‘I chose cricket because I like this sport very much. But before deciding on cricket, I also had an interest in the sporting areas of table tennis, football and swimming, but it was always cricket that stood out for me”, said Tharanga.

His deceased parents and cricket coach from school Suraj Sanjeewa encouraged him to pursue cricket and does not hesitate to thank the Foundation of Goodness. “If not for the support of my deceased parents, my elder brother, coach Suraj and the Foundation of Goodness Trustee Kushil Gunasekera, I would not have been able to achieve this much success and to them I am very grateful”, he added.

Having benefited from the Foundation of Goodness and made his mark as a Sri Lanka schools Under-15 player on a tour of Malaysia, Tharanga has now set his mind on playing for a club after he leaves school and the Foundation’s trustee Kushil Gunasekera also sees a future bet in the making.

“It is important to acknowledge the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for their generosity through which Tharanga received a timely scholarship which has helped him immensely to pursue his cricketing career along with the help of the Foundation of Goodness”, said Gunasekera.

A well-wisher David Cruse from Australia has also extended his support with different forms of sponsorships according to the requirements of Tharanga.

[Mr.Delon (King of Ceylon)]

All the best 4 THARANGA

[randula01]

GOOD LUCK MALLIYA..................

[sriflipflop]

work hard then you can get in to big time cricket