In a major step to promote cricket at the grassroots level, the Ministry of Youth and Sports distributed cricket equipment to 30 schools in the Western Province that currently do not offer the sport.

The event, held at the Ministry premises, was led by Deputy Minister of Sports Sugath Thilakaratne and is part of the broader School Cricket Development Programme.

Each school received complete cricket kits, including batting and wicket-keeping gear, to encourage young talent and develop cricket as an industry.

Deputy Minister Thilakaratne reaffirmed the Ministry’s focus on supporting underprivileged students by providing necessary infrastructure and access to sports.

The initiative will expand to other districts with the goal of giving every child, regardless of economic background, the chance to play cricket.