The presentations were made by Sri Lankan cricketers on behalf of the sponsors 'Singer' comprising the Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga, former vice captain Aravinda de Silva, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Atapattu, Romesh Kaluvitharana and Hashan Tillakaratne.
This exercise of gift in cricket equipment of these schools is in a sense of tangible expression of Singer (Refrigerators) Sri Lanka's ongoing program of broadbasing cricket with a particular emphasis on working for the upliftment of cricket in rural schools which experience deprivations in one form or other.
The Sri Lankan cricketer Hashan Tillakaratne who is also Singer's Public Relation Manager in his welcome address amongst other things said that there is significance in this sponsorship progarmme which seeks to uplift the standard and quality of cricket in the less privileged schools in that hitherto all of Singer's sponsorships have been on a corporate basis and this is the first time that a product category (refrigerators) is providing sponsorship.
He hoped the Singer Refrigerators advertising theme the 'winning team' will rub off on the Sri Lanka cricket team to make them a winning combination not only to retain the World Cup but to do well in the future too.
'Singer and cricket' are close to the heart of the Chairman of Singer, Hemaka Amarasuriya speaking on the occasion said that his company has been sponsoring cricket both in the international as well as the local level and was striving to promote and foster the game in the rural areas so as to cover the length and breadth of this country.
He stressed that there is potential and talent in the rural areas waiting to be harnessed. Whilst assisting and encouraging them we must give them hope that their efforts and hardwork will not go unnoticed but be recognised.
It became necessary for the marketing manager consumer products Asita Abeysekera of Singer to explain that the seven school selected for assistance was done with the guidance and direction of the Sri Lanka School Cricket Association.
He felt since this was a preliminary in their outreach programme there could be an omission or two which should be borne in the best of spint and welcomed any information of schools deserving assistance.
Abeysekera concluded by saying that the donation of equipment will be followed by coaching sessions and the organising of benefit matches in those areas.