Spinner Muralitharan visits Pooneryn

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 November 2004, 08:09 GMT]
Sri Lanka Cricket Board has decided to construct playgrounds in Killinochchi and Jaffna peninsula at an estimated cost of 5 million rupees to develop cricket in the north, according to Sri Lanka's cricket star Mr.Muttiah Muralitharan. "Sri Lanka Cricket Board has requested the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for approval to implement the project," he said addressing a press conference Monday evening at the UNHCR office in Jaffna after a day tour in the peninsula. Mr. Muralitharan visited the LTTE held Pooneryn area after the press meet.

Mr.Muralitharan is on a visit to Pooneryn (Poonagari) in Killinochchi district Tuesday to see the projects of World Food Programme for (WFP) feeding school children affected by the two decade old war, sources said.

Mr.Muralitharan is currently on tour to north as a goodwill ambassador of the WFP.

"Jaffna has not made much progress in development, rehabilitation and other related matters since I visited last year. To eradicate poverty and make people to lead a prosperous life all should work to find permanent end to the war," said Mr.Muralitharan.

"I would like to meet LTTE activists when I visit Killinochchi Tuesday," he said.

Although Sri Lanka Cricket Board is to launch a project to develop cricket in the north, first priority will be to provide basic facilities such as food and clothing and other assistance to better the lives of people affected by two decades of war, Mr.Muralitharan said.

"Many enter politics to earn. I will not enter politics as there is no such need for me," quipped Mr.Muralitharan.

Representatives of the governments of Norway, Netherlands, Canada and Australia that provide financial assistance to the WFP projects were present at the press briefing.