Lanka Premier League 2023 to support fund raising efforts to build a critical care unit for children

By K.R. Nayar

Cricket is not only about creating excitement through its great contests, but its magnificence is raised when it also strives to serve humanity. The game's popularity today is purely due to the love for the game among the masses. In line with that, the Lanka Premier League's plans to support the masses by raising funds to build a critical care unit for children deserves to be applauded.

 


LPL has launched a campaign titled 'Bat & Bowl for Little Hearts.' This campaign will focus on supporting the 'Little Hearts' project of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) in Colombo. Sri Lanka Cricket's Executive Committee, headed by President Shammi Silva, announced that they have decided to leverage the upcoming league's international exposure to help the 'Little Hearts' project raise funds for building a 'Cardiac and Critical Care Complex' at the LRH. This complex aims to save thousands of little hearts that are beating weaker and weaker.

 

Shammi Silva - President Sri Lanka Cricket 

The Cardiac and Critical Care Complex will feature cardiac operating theatres and increase the number of cardiac ICU beds from 18 to 40, including over 100 medical and neonatal intensive care beds, as well as areas for advanced cardiac investigations and staff training facilities to provide optimum care for all children.

 

If funds can be raised with the backing of Lanka Premier League 2023, set to be held from July 30 to August 21, for the facility, it will immediately help treat children with congenital heart diseases, which are the main cause of infant deaths in Sri Lanka, according to the LRH.

 

3-D image of the Heart Centre 

"Sri Lanka Cricket has not only focused on cricket in recent years but has also found ways to help our country, and this project is our latest effort towards helping our nation’s future," remarked Shammi Silva, President, Sri Lanka Cricket.


Research has shown that nearly ten out of every 1,000 infants in Sri Lanka die before they reach their first birthday due to congenital heart defects.


 

Samantha Dodanwela - Tournament Director Lanka Premier League 2023

It was Samantha Dodanwela, the Tournament Director of the Lanka Premier League 2023, who mooted the idea of backing the ‘Little Hearts Project,’ along with SLC President Shammi Silva. Talking about the campaign, Dodanwela said: "We will use the upcoming Lanka Premier League to give the ‘Little Hearts’ project a massive boost by conducting a campaign during the tournament titled ''Bat and Bowl for Little Hearts’ to raise funds for this worthy cause.”


Dr. G. Wijesuriya, the Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, thanked Sri Lanka Cricket, saying: "LRH wants this facility to come up as soon as possible; it is going to be such an important part of our country’s healthcare, and we thank Sri Lanka Cricket for coming forward to help us in this cause.”

Incidentally, the health authorities have revealed that the construction of the LRH’s Cardiac and Critical Care Complex is highly important in order to get rid of the main cause of infant mortality in the country.

 

 

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