East-Coast Cricket Festival (Henry Steel Olcott Challenge Trophy)
For 16 years, ACOBA-EC has successfully organized the biggest annual gathering of Sri Lankans in the eastern US, with old boys from schools in Sri Lanka participating in a limited-over cricket tournament and competing for the Henry Steel Olcott Challenge Trophy. This tournament, the brainchild of three old Anandians: Lasitha Abeysekera, Kheminda Jayawardena, and Samantha Rajapakse, has blossomed over the years into a festival of not only cricket but many other activities including volleyball, mini-golf, organized activities for children, food and a variety of other stalls, and a live band, generating a true carnival atmosphere for all to enjoy. June 2023 competition was among ten teams representing Ananda, Nalanda, Royal, S. Thomas, St. Peters, Mahanama, Maris Stella, Isipathana, Trinity, and Thurstan colleges, bringing out a day of high-quality cricket played with true comradeship. The 2023 Olcott Challenge Trophy was won by Royal College, which edged out Nalanda College in the final.
Ranaviru Upahara
Each year, ACOBA-EC members gather at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara to commemorate the heroes of the armed forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. We hold a modest ceremony to honor and offer merits to those gallant soldiers and to wish peace and happiness to those heroes still amongst us.
In addition, ACOBA-EC makes donations to facilities that provide long-term care for veterans in Sri Lanka.
May 2023 – Abimansala, Anuradhapura
May 2022 - Ranaviru Sewana, Ragama
Founder’s Day Remembrance
Every year, ACOBA-EC commemorates our founder Col. Henry Steel Olcott, through almsgiving, providing aid to a charity, or food to homeless shelters/soup kitchens.
Nov 2023 – Commemorative event at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara
Nov 2022 – Dinner for Ozanam Shelter in Edison, NJ
