The Lanka Cavaliers were led by Sri Lanka first Test captain Bandula Warnapura - a former Director of Coaching.
The response the Lanka Cavaliers got from the outstations was positive and there was much enthusiasm from the District Cricket Associations which helped them in their outstation development program.
In August 1997, Lanka Cavaliers embarked on an ambitious program of conducting every month a two-day coaching clinic/match in the outstations. The coaching clinic is in three parts and consist of a lecture followed by a practice session and a video analysis of talented players filmed during the practice session with a view to rectifying any defects they may have. On the next we play a match against an Invitation XI arranged by the local organisers. At the end of the program cricket materials are presented to the organisers to be used in the development of the game in the area. Value of materials presented so far is around Rs. 200,000.
The launch was in Anuradhapura, followed by Buttala, Matale, Badulla, Ratnapura, Kandana, Tissamaharama, Kurunegala, Kegalle, Nawalapitiya, Ambalangoda and Nuwara-Eliya. The next three programs have been scheduled at Dambulla, Galle and Hatton.
Hatton National Bank, headed by Mr. Rienzie T. Wijetilleke which has been always lending a hand for the development of cricket in the country through their general sponsorships, once again recognised the good intentions and the value of such a program responded positively by sponsoring the first three programs. Mr. N. M. Manjula Narayana, Managing Director/CEO of N. M. K. Products & Agencies Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, was very generous in sponsoring 5 programs. Mr. A. Wickramanayake, Chairman of Master Divers sponsored the Program at Deberawewa, Tissamaharama in the Hambantota District. Mr. K. Mathivanan, Managing Director of East-West Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, also sponsored one program.
Lanka Cavaliers have been invited by 'Lanka Lions' of Dubai, the leading Sri Lankan Sports and Social Club in the UAE to tour the Emirates end of November to play four matches with Indian, Pakistani, British and Sri Lankan veterans teams and conduct two or more coaching clinics for the students living there. Arrangements are being finalised for this tour at present. The proposed overseas tour is also in line with our objectives of playing cricket for Peace, Service and Goodwill and is an extension of our domestic program.
Lanka Cavaliers consist of Bandula Warnapura (Capt), Jayantha Seneviratne (V. Capt), Jerry Woutersz, Kirthi Gunaratne, S. Illangeratnam, Basil Perera, Bandula de Silva, Damian Fernando, Mervyn Fernando, K. H. Nandasena, C. P. P. Raj, Dushan Soza, Daya Sirisena (Treasurer), Chitral Mendis, Zareen Hameed, Mahes Jayasekera, Ranjith Rajapakse, Dr. Ananda Gunasekera, Pemlal Fernando, Desmond Woutersz (Secy) and Lakith Peiris (President/Manager).