International Federation of Cricketing Rotarians 5th World Rotary Cricket Festival held in Colombo Sri Lanka - 12th to 18th August 2007.
After our plane flight from Australia and arriving at the Hilton Hotel we were given a Sri Lankan Welcome with drummers and the lighting of the brass lamp.
The ladies and others also enjoyed a refreshing drink from a "King Coconut".
We had a "Welcome Gathering" and speeches from the Executives of the Organising Committee.
We were then advised of the Opening Ceremony time at the Galle Face Hotel and made our way there by the bus provided for us.
Galle Face Hotel
There were pre-ceremony drinks and entertainment on the patio beside the sea wall.
Fire Dancers
We were then ushered into the Ball Room for the Opening Ceremony with drums, dancing girls and the lighting of the brass lamp.
Followed by cricketers carrying the flags of their representative countries into the auditorium.
Next were the speeches of welcome and encouragement for a very enjoyable cricket festival.
After the speeches, each team were invited on to the stage with the Captain introducing the players in his team to the guests and cricketers present from the various countries.
Australia "A" Team
India "A" Team
India "B" Team
Great Britain Team
South African Team
New Zealand Team
Phil O'Shea, Captain introduces Australia "B" Team
Australia "B" Team
India "C" Team
Australia "C" Team
India "D" Team
Combined Pakistan - Sri Lankan Team
Sri Lankan Teams
After the opening ceremony we all had dinner and drinks and a time to catch up with old cricketing friends.
The next day it was the start of some serious cricketing at the C.H and F.C Oval.
A good game of cricket was enjoyed in the spirit of the game. After a shower and a beer, that night we were all taken to the Mount Lavinia Hotel for more entertainment and dinner and drinks.
After non-stop entertainment all night, a beautiful dinner and a few drinks it was back to the hotel for a good nights sleep. A great time was had by all who enjoyed the Sri Lankan hospitality.
The next day was a rest day for our team, so we decided to hire a small bus and were driven to Galle to see the school that District 9790 had raised funds to re-build, after the school was destroyed by the Tsunami of December 2004.
A welcome cup of tea at the re-furbished Light House Hotel.
The College that was re-built with Rotary funds
The Girls Computer Room
The Boys Computer Room
It was then back to Colombo for our next game against the New Zealand team.
A game we easily won. It was the back on the bus to our hotel.
I was fortunate to be given some photographs of our other Australian team in their game against a team from India, shown below.
The final night was another gala event, named a "Farewell Fiesta" hosted by the Rotary Club of Colombo Regency, with light entertainment, speeches, presentation of prizes and gifts.
The various Rotary Clubs of Colombo did a marvelous job in hosting the visiting teams from Rotary Districts that took part in the 5th World Rotary Festival of the International Federation of Cricketing Rotarians and I am proud to have been given to opportunity to take a small part in this memorable event.
While the some other members of the touring Australians took the opportunity to see more of Sri Lanka, I decided to head up into the mountains and visit the Rotary Club that was the co-sponsor of the Donations-in-kind project that sent computers to various schools, hospital beds and other equipment to local hospitals and other items for distribution in the local area.
I stayed at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya and attended the Welimada Rotary Club meeting that was held at the Buddhist Temple of the President who was a Buddhist Monk. Attached to the temple was a school and the pupils were encouraged to attend. The pictures below were taken at this meeting.
Boa Tree at Temple.
Group Picture
Welimada Rotary Club President and Ed.Rowlands.
An interesting experience of the procedures of the Rotary Club of another culture.
I then came back to Colombo and joined the others to return to Australia together.
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