The felicitation ceremony organized for Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup winning cricket team, Asian Championship winning Netball team and the Sri Lankan medal winners at the Commonwealth Games commenced, a short while ago, under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The event was held at the Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts in Colombo, organized by the Ministry of Sports and Sports Associations, with the official sponsorship of Dialog Axiata and hosted by Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts.

In accordance with a request made by the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, each member of the victorious netball team received a reward of Rs. 2 million each, which was gifted by the Sri Lanka Cricket as a goodwill gesture of sporting comradeship. 

In addition, the Commonwealth Silver Medalists received Rs. 10 million each, while Bronze Medalists received Rs. 5 million each. The coaches of the winning athletes were also felicitated during this event and they were accorded 25% of the cash rewards presented to the athletes. These rewards were made available from the sports fund. 

Sri Lanka won 4 medals in the 2022 Commonwealth Games held recently in Birmingham, Britain. Palitha Bandara won the silver medal in the discus throw in the para sports category, while Yupun Abeykoon won bronze in the 100m event, Nethmi Ahimsa Poruthota in the women’s 57kg wrestling event and Dilanka Isuru Kumara won the bronze medals in the 55kg weightlifting category.

Meanwhile a cheque of USD 500,000 (Approx. Rs. 180 million) was handed over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for the purchase of medicines for the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital.

During the recent past, the media continuously reported that the cancer patients at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital are facing great difficulty due to the shortage of medicines.

The Presidential Media Unit informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe and President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake about this issue, and they were instructed to look into the problem immediately and provide prompt solutions.

Accordingly, the Maharagama Hospital and the Ministry of Health, determined that the main problem for the shortage of medicines is the lack of funds.

The issue was brought to the notice of the President of Sri Lanka Cricket Mr. Shammi Perera, by the President’s Media Director Mr. Shanuka Karunaratne, and coordinated the donation. Sri Lanka Cricket, which promptly responded to the request made by the Presidential Media Unit, offered to support it through the President’s Office. As promised, they made the donation following the Asia Cup victory.