School-children who collect finances by sand-mining ... for Malaysian tour

School-children who collect finances by sand-mining ... for Malaysian tour

A pathetic case of news is reported where the throw-ball team who were champions of Moneragala, Wellawaya Kumaradasa Maha Vidyalaya for a continuous period of five years in order to collect funds for a Malaysian tour are reported as involved in sand-mining from rivers. The throw-ball team of of Wellawaya Kumaradasa Maha Vidyalaya has been chosen for the international throw-ball championship to be held in Malaysia by the ministry of education and Sri Lanka Throw-ball
Association after taking into consideration their skills. 

"Our children under twenty, under seventeen and under fifteen have continuously been champions in both both women's and men's throw-ball events since year 2013. It is our children of Kumaradasa Vidyalaya who have been chosen to represent Sri Lanka at world throw-ball championships this time. For that a sum of Rs. 21 lakhs are to be expended. Collecting such a big sum of money by parents of these children who live by farming and cultivation is a big challenge. But seeing that this dream of the children being achieved is a responsibility of us as teachers". 

It is student W. Chamath Mithsara who is the leader of the throw-ball team of Wellawaya Kumaradasa Maha Vidyalaya. This student explained the challenge they are facing in the following manner: "The world championship tournament to be held in Malaysia is a big opportunity for us. We somehow try to get that opportunity. But there are only three parents of players in our two groups who are government servants and the others are children of very poor parents. Finding funds for the tour for those children too is a big predicament. It is because of that our team has got together and decided to find the money for this tour by engaging in sand-mining. With that also we have collected some money. But it is helpful if support of some sponsor comes our way".

Chief MP of Uva provincial council has granted a sum of Rs. two lakhs for the tour of the throw-ball team of Wellawaya Kumaradasa Maha Vidyalaya. It is understood that member of parliament and deputy speaker Mr. Ananda Kumarasiri also has taken steps to donate Rs. one and a half lakhs to these children. Though a private secretary of Badulla district member of parliament and sports minister Mr. Harin Fernando has spoken to the principal of the school concerned and said that flight tickets and visas would be looked after by them, the principal of the school mentioned that nothing specific was mentioned about it.

- Nayanajeewa Bandara-