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Australian
cricket team bats for Galle fort
Team coach John Buchanan and Security Consultant David Woodman led an Aussie delegation inside the Fort and were given a briefing on the historical and cultural value of the Fort by one of its oldest residents, A. Ismail, better known by locals as ' Major '. Later, the world cricket champs' coach, Buchanan, told The Sunday Times that the Fort is "a beautiful place" and that they "understood the dilemma faced by the people" in preserving the history and cultural heritage of the ancient Dutch Fort, one of the rare living vibrant forts. Campaigners of the Galle fort, World Heritage Protection Society, headed by Suha Cassim, were on hand to brief the officials and show them around. Coach Buchanan, however, told The Sunday Times that they were only visiting the UNESCO site in their personal capacity, and they were not making any formal endorsement of the campaign by the locals. The Aussie cricketers were expected to participate in the tour of the Fort, but were tied up instead at net practices across the ramparts at the Galle International Stadium. Several foreigners have purchased houses inside the Galle fort and renovated them after the Government lifted the restrictions on non-nationals purchasing real estate in Sri Lanka. |
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