'Singer' pulls out of Schools Rugby sponsorship

RUGBY: The newly elected set of officials of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) for 2009 have encountered their first test ahead of a gruelling inter-school rugby season, with the decision taken by Singer, Sri lanka Limited to withdraw from sports sponsorship forthwith due to the prevalent global economic downturn.

Secretary of the SLSRFA Kumara Rodrigo, when contacted by Sunday Observer, said that Singer, the chief sponsor of the popular Schools Rugby League Tournament since 2003, had written to the President of SLSRFA Punyadasa Kuruppu in this regard. "They (Singer) have officially informed our President that because of the global financial crisis, they are finding it difficult to remain as sponsor of the Under-20 Division 1 and 2 tournaments", Rodrigo said and added that Singer have also stated that being a top sports promoter, they have decided to step out of sponsorships from all sports and rugby is no exception."

Asked whether the conduct of the SLSRFA officials in the recent past also would have contributed to such a move by the sponsor, Rodrigo dismissed such notions, saying that their working relationship with the multi-national firm was healthy as ever.

The SLSRFA Secretary added that with the `pulling out' of Signer, Sri Lanka as the League sponsor, the sport's main ruling body would do their best to rope in a new sponsor and emphasised that the forthcoming League and the President's Trophy Knock-Out tournaments will be conducted on schedule. "We are confidant that before the end of February, a new sponsor can be got on board", Rodrigo said.

Singer, Sri Lanka Limited Promotions Manager K.D.S. Kanishka speaking to Sunday Observer, said that his firm's move to pull out of sports sponsorships this year was largely based on the current global economic crisis and denied suggestions that their working relationship with the SLSRFA had turned frosty. Kanishka noted that his school, besides sponsoring the League for the past six years had also sponsored over 30 schools in the Under-20 Division 1, 2, 3 segments apart from also being the main financial backer of the country's most coveted inter-school rugby match - the Bradby Shield between Trinity and Royal for a duration of 18 years.

Singer had also sponsored the country's undisputed club champion team Kandy Sports Club for the past eight years while they also marked their 10th year in being a co-sponsor of the popular International Sevens Tournament held annually at Nittawela, Kandy, alongside SriLankan Airlines.

J.K.