On March 2, the Sri Lankan national cricket players met the young adults and adults with autism and other neuro-developmentally challenged people from PFDA-Vocational Training Centre at Le Méridien.
PFDA or "Parents Forum for Differently Able" is an organisation that provides livelihood opportunity for young adults and adults with autism and other neuro-developmental disabilities. The centre is the first of its kind to operate in Bangladesh. The PFDA has an institutional vocational training centre (VTC) in Bangladesh to work with people that suffer from neurological disabilities.
30 students with autism, Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities from PFDA-Vocational Training Center were present at the event. They made wristbands for the players to wish them luck for their upcoming matches for the Asia Cup 2016.
The VTC students attended the event wearing Sri Lankan jerseys. As a surprise performance, the students performed a Sri Lankan folk song. All the attending players sang and danced along with the performers.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Her Excellency Yasoja Gunadekera, the manager of Sri Lankan cricket team Jerome Jayaratne, assistant secretary of Asian Cricket Council Ravin Seneviratne, the executive director PFDA-VTC Sajida Rahman Danny, General Manager of Le Méridien Ashwani Nayar, Director of Sales and Marketing of Le Méridien Anwar Hossain, and Francis De Silva from the Sri Lanka Bangladesh Friendship Cricket Association spoke at the event. Additional General Manager of Apex Syed Gias Hussain, Rajan Pillai, the chief operating officer of Apex, and designated officials from the International Labour Organisation were also present.
Le Méridien Dhaka presented a cake to commemorate the event while Apex provided coupon vouchers for the students at the centre.
