Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States Mahinda Samarasinghe attended the 2024 East Coast Cricket Festival on Saturday, 22 June 2024 at the Tall Timbers Park Cricket Field in South Brunswick, New Jersey. The Ambassador was invited by President Saliya de Silva of the Ananda College Old Boys Association East Coast USA.
The 17th edition of this prestigious festival featured teams comprising alumni from several renowned Sri Lankan schools, including Ananda College, Nalanda College, Royal College, St. Thomas’ College, Maris Stella College, St. Peter’s College, Trinity College, Mahanama College, Isipathana College, and Thurstan College. Over the past sixteen years, the East Coast Cricket Festival has grown significantly in popularity, now attracting Sri Lankan participants, their families, and friends from various parts of the United States. The event symbolizes the unity among different groups sharing a common heritage.
In addition to the cricket matches, the festival featured fun activities for children, volleyball games, and food stalls, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Ambassador Samarasinghe, accompanied by the organizers from the Ananda College Old Boys’ Association, visited all the tents, engaging with participants from each school. He also visited the food stalls, interacting with numerous attendees and sharing the spirit of goodwill, healthy competition, and camaraderie fostered at the event.
Joining Ambassador Samarasinghe were Deputy Permanent Representative Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, and Minister (Military Advisor) Brigadier Sumal Wickramasekara from the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York as well as the Third Secretary from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C Tharaka Dissanayake..
