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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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Murali, Vaas, Gunasekera Foundation appeals for funds to help tsunami victims by Srian Obeyesekere He is usually known for his herculean feats with the ball. But a different tip of the iceberg to the challenges on the cricket field has cast Muttiah Muralitharan in a different role altogether. The grim reminder of the tsunami disaster. The champion Sri Lankan bowler is all the more busy today rallying around the cause of raising funds for his cricket manager cum business partner, Kushil Gunasekera who lost virtually everything he had to the December 26 tsunami. "I am raising funds from abroad along with Chaminda Vaas to see that 'The Foundation of Goodness' which was involved in a tremendous volume of work for the needy is back on its feet as soon as possible. It is one of its kind which needs to be restored, and we'll leave no stones unturned until it is restored," Muralitharan, founder of the Muralitharan-Vaas-Gunasekera Foundation (MVG) which had initiated several short and long term aid projects, particularly for sportsmen jointly with 'The Foundation of Goodness' run by his manager Gunasekera, told the Sunday Observer. It was a brush with death that fateful Sunday morning of December 26 so familiarly known to the cricketing world as "Boxing Day" that has driven Muralitharan on this new mission. He was down to distribute school equipment to some 200 poorest of the poor school children for the 2005 term from the Seenigama village in Hikkaduwa. Fifty of those children who were looking forward to the occasion never made it. They were swept to the sea together with their mothers on their way to the 'Foundation of Goodness.' What saved Muralitharan, who was on his way to Seenigama along with his intended bride, mother, brother and mother-in-law to be was the fact that he set out half an hour late. He was at Kalutara when he was alerted and turned back. But the pall of gloom is stark as ever. Muralitharan's manager Gunasekera, who was awaiting his arrival along with hundred other students escaped death from the tsunami waters and fled to safety. The nightmare still haunts Muralitharan's manager. Tears roll down at the tragic end that befell the fifty students aged between 13 and 17 years for whom that better morrow never dawned. But the concern of a gracious 'charge' in Muralitharan has seen the world Test bowling record breaker send out an SOS for funds from his cricketing friends abroad. "We hope to welcome back the foundation," said Muralitharan. An estimated Rs. 15 million worth of community projects were destroyed. Asked about how he felt in his comeback from injury in turning out for an Asian XI against a Rest of the World XI last week in a fund relief match, Muralitharan replied, "I bowled at only 60 per cent of my full potential." He claimed 3 wickets in this fund-raiser won by the Rest of the World XI. What Gunasekera can only count is the good work rendered by him to the village, including sponsoring the Sri Wimala Buddhist M. V. under-15 volleyball team to emerge Southern Province schools' champions, an All-Island champion under-15 athlete, setting up of a children's park and providing school equipment including shoes for barefooted schoolgoers. |
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