New sponsors Etisalat assures big things at Royal - Thomian
by A. C. de Silva
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Young men with a vision.... Royal skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa
(left) and Dinesh Walpita the captain of S. Thomas’ who were
invited guests for the media briefing for the 131st Battle of
the Blues Cricket encounter held on Monday at Hilton Hotel.
Pic. A. Maduraweran
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CRICKET: Big Match time has arrived and the 131st ‘Battle of the
Blues, between Royal and S. Thomas’ will be played at the SSC grounds
from March 11 to 13 this year.
Etisalat - The Telecom people and they plan to do a wonderful job
with their first sports assignment. Etisalat Lanka CEO Dumindra
Rathnayake said that they are proud to be part of the oldest
uninterrupted inter-school cricket encounter and it is not simply a
cricket match but a colling together of two great institutions and it
added to the traditions of the great encounter. The sponsors gave an
assurance to the Royal-Thomian committee that they would sponsor the
match for the next three years.For Wardon Rev. John C. Puddefoot, the
17th Warden at S. Thomas’ this match will be something special and he
said that he hoped that all who make it for the match will have a nerve
wracking experience. Cricket is a terrifying game and the bowlers have
it much easier than the batsmen. “Play hard and be friends.” he advised
the two teams.
Mr. Upali Gunasekera - the Principal of Royal said that the match was
of special significance to the Royalists as it celebrates the 175th
anniversary of the school.
The Warden of S. Thomas’ Rev. John C. Puddefoot and Principal of
Royal Mr. Upali Gunasekera thanked Etisalat for their lavish sponsorship
of the match. The duo were of the opinion that the two teams lost that’s
S. Thomas’ and Royal to Trinity and Prince of Wales in two-day games and
the three-day game that’s the Royal - Thomian should be a close
encounter. |
