By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Foundation of Goodness (FoG) signed a memorandum with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) to harness and enhance the training and development facilities for the rural talent in sports.
The special agreement was signed at the Olympic House recently while former cricket stars Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena with FOG founder and Chief Trustee Kusil Gunasekara and NOC senior officials were present for this historic occasion.
FOG Founder and Chief Trustee Kusil Gunasekara said it was the first time that this type of MOU has been signed with National Olympic Committee. “I think this is good start and hope to continue this project successfully. FOG is doing various type of social activities for the benefit of sports development. This time we are very keen to associate with NOC.” said Gunasekera.
The idea for a partnership between the two entities had sprung following a visit by NOC President Suresh Subramanium to Seenigama Village ‘Unconditional Compassion’, where the FOG mainstay is located. FOG is currently serving to over 35000 lives in over 200 villages free of cost for their daily living and have held many important sports activities in downsouth coastal areas and of northern Sri Lanka.
The FoG’s sports academy in Seenigama was developed in post-tsunami with the involvement of cricketing legends in the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara along with Ashan Malasekera, Rohan Iriyagolla, Pratheepan Karunagaran who are the trustees for the founder Kushil Gunasekera.
The relationship with the NOC, would boost FOV to conduct many more activities in the games like Badminton, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball and Football with the assistance of the foreign coaches. “This will give us lot of encouragement, confidence and belief that we can do better, hopefully will take the sports arena into another level in the years to come with the backing of the NOC.” added Kushil Gunasekera.
Meanwhile President of the NOC Suresh Subramaniam said that the sports is the only field that does not consider any barriers such as cast, creed or race, but the pure talent. “NOC is very happy to join hands with legends like Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara who had brought Sri Lanka great pride and honor.” said Subramanium.
Meanwhile, Kumar Sangakkara said “We are very grateful to Suresh Subramaniam, Secretary Maxwell De Silva, Vice President Asanga Seneviratne and the rest of the National Olympic Committee officials to having placed the faith that the Foundation of Goodness, which would in return deliver for the betterment of the sports in Sri Lanka,
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