Hayleys- Colts join hands to develop cricket

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: Two of the oldest institutions in the country Hayleys and the Colombo Colts Cricket Club will go hand-in-hand in developing cricket at grassroot level.

Hayleys Consumer, a fully owned subsidiary of Hayleys PLC and the Colts Cricket Club both are over 130 years old and the partnership between them, assisted by Sri Lanka Cricket will no doubt help young aspiring cricketers to find their final destination in cricket by representing the country.

Hayleys is a leading establishment representing many International household brands while Colts CC has produced many top class cricketers in the past. Presently players like Chaminda Vaas, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekera, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Malinda Warnapura and Thisara Perera have reached the top, and no doubt in the future with the backing of Hayleys Consumer and Sri Lanka Cricket they will be able to supply a steady flow of talented players to the national side.

At a press briefing held at the Colts CC pavilion with regard to the sponsorship, Hayleys PLC Group Director and Hayleys Consumer Product Managing Director Rizvi Zaheed said that “With the World Cup around the corner, cricket has become a hot subject, I thank Sri Lanka Cricket for giving us the opportunity in coming forward. While popularising the game, we hope to popularise our products as well.” he said.

Trevor Rajaratnam, a former Colts cricketer and a Vice-Patron, going down memory lane, commended the services rendered by the past members of the club. He was full of praise of the present generation of players who have brought fame to the 137-year-old club.

However, he reminded that cricket alone will not help a person but things like communication should help to build more confidence among players.

Colts CC General Secretary Roshantha de Fonseka, Rahaman Zubair Director - Hayleys Consumer Products, Ranjith Samarasekera Patron Colts CC, Tissa Abeywardena Vice President Colts, Nishantha Ranatunga Secretary SLC, M.Ratnaharan Treasurer Colts CC were also present.