The 27th June 2009 saw the culmination of a busy six months of sports at the Seenigama Sports Academy as children from across the region took part in the inaugural badminton coaching programme at Sri Sumangala College, and cricketers benefited from the expertise of Sidath Wettimuny during a life skills and cricket coaching programme held at the Surrey County Cricket Club sponsored Sri Wimala Buddhi MV Seenigama Oval.  During this training program he spoke about batting techniques such as grip, stance, back lift, balance, drills and training methods,

Sport has always been a central focus for the Foundation of Goodness. From Kushil's early days when he visited his ancestral home in Seenigama and noticed the exceptional yet un-trained skills of his peers, to the sports scholarships and facilities he provided on a small scale when he first set up the Foundation of Goodness in his property grounds back in 1997.

With the collaboration of FoG Trustees and Sri Lanka Cricket heroes Murali, Vaas and Sangakarra, the focus on sport has continued to grow, leading to some wonderful connections with sports clubs and organisations all over the world, including the prestigious MCC and Surrey County Cricket Club, both of which have sponsored beautiful cricket grounds in the region.

Of course, the facilities that exist today for sports development are a product of the destruction caused by the tsunami, and the outpouring of compassion that came as a result. We are so happy today, to be able to provide sports facilities, quality training and expert coaching programmes that benefit over 1500 children and youth in beautiful facilities including the Bryan Adams 25m Swimming Pool, Outdoor Sports Facility, including netball and volleyball courts and cricket practice nets, as well as the cricket grounds at Sri Wimala Buddhi MV School in Seenigama and Sri Sumangala College in Hikkaduwa.

Thanks to Ian Botham's interest in the sports development work, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation came on board to support our activities after the tsunami, when sport was a key way of rebuilding the community and giving hope amongst the ruins. Today, the Laureus funded Sport for Life project is helping children from 7 schools in the region to improve their physical and mental health and to give back to their communities through community work projects. The project has a focus on life skills development, using sport to teach the skills that will equip rural children to achieve their potential on and off the sports field.

Over the last six months, the Sports for Life project have extended its sports focus, in a bid to increase participation, particularly of girls. To this end, the Sports Academy now provides coaching in netball, volleyball, badminton, swimming and girls' cricket, as well as providing community sports activities such as triathlon, beach volleyball, athletics, softball cricket and sea swimming.

Badminton is the latest sport to join the Sports Academy repertoire. With newly appointed coach Duminda de Silva, schedule of coaching classes has been set up at the indoor sports hall at Sri Sumangala College, providing after-school training for children from across the region. Badminton is a great sport for younger children because it is low impact, and useful for bringing out confidence of individuals as well as improving coordination, fitness and mental agility.

Kushil is committed to sports development as a tool for social change, and recognises the opportunities sport brings, not only for personal or team success, but also for teaching values of sportsmanship, discipline, respect and commitment. On the events of the 27th June, he reflected that “it is remarkable to see such events, organised in a very professional manner, delivering the opportunities never witnessed before in rural schools. It is the aim of the Foundation of Goodness to bridge the gap between urban and rural by providing the opportunities and facilities that children and youth need to broaden their horizons, recognise their talents and strive towards achieving their ambitions. I have seen so many excellent sportsmen and women in the making today, but it is not the sports talent alone that impresses me. Sport brings a confidence and a self-awareness that children need as they grow towards adulthood. It is a pleasure to witness the strength of character, the manners and good attitude that the sports children are showing, on and off the sports ground. It is an exciting prospect for our country because it is the leaders of tomorrow who can make a real difference for all, and the citizens of tomorrow who can make the changes that they want to see in the world.

“Excellence is doing ordinary things
extraordinarily well”

2009.07.27