HIV/ AIDS Awareness programme and Cricket Tournament  on World  AIDS Day 2007
Anuradhapura District

Anuradhapura, situated in North Central Province of Sri Lanka, is an ancient city. It has been a good tourist attraction. It is also the midway-transit point for security personnel who fight the on going civil war. These have cumulated to make the Anuradhapura vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. There are reported cases of sexual abuse and exploitation. Some children of those families whose mothers have migrated to Middle East for employment are vulnerable to incest in their families. Early school dropouts – among whom many are females, end up as workers in garments factories, where they are vulnerable to many forms of exploitation including sexual harassment. Girls who have been sexually exploited often continue the rest of their lives as sex workers. Some of them even serve as sex workers for the army personal who are in transits from the war front. Sexual harassment in public transport is quite common.

In order to gather Christian youth together too create awareness regarding HIV/AIDS we thought of conducting Cricket tournament. 250 Christian youth from several areas in Anuradhapura District attended this program. The Pastors’ fellowship in North Central Province extended their full support to coordinate this programme with the many youth fellowships of Churches in Anuradhapura District.  The programme was carried out by the Alliance Development Trust volunteer team in Anuradhapura District and the following events had taken place on that day.  

1)      HIV/AIDS Awareness programme.

·         Opening Prayers and worship

·         Lighting the Traditional Oil Lamp

·         HIV/AIDS Awareness Speech

·         Taking oaths to “Stop AIDS -  Keep the promise”

2)      Cricket tournament.

·         HIV/AIDS Awareness announcements.

·         Brochures Distribution.

Following Churches sent their Cricket teams for the six a side cricket tournament.

1.      Assembly of God Church - Dambulla.

2.      Assembly of God Church - Galgamuwa.

3.      Assembly of God Church - Galewela.

4.      Assembly of God Church - Talawa

5.      Christian Centre Church- Higuraggoda

6.      Foursquare Church – Kekirawa

7.      Assemble of God Church - Kekirawa

8.      Faith Church –  Tissawawe.  

Each Team had its supporters who too participated for the HIV/AIDS Awareness program. Awareness
banners were hung around the play Ground and HIV/AIDS Awareness brochures were distributed to
the onlookers gathered there.