Nippon Paint props up with Sri Lanka Rugby

Sri Lanka Rugby President Rizly Illyas (third from left) exchanging contract with Nippon Paint Lanka General Manager Nemantha Abeysinghe while (from left): Sri Lanka Rugby Executive Director Hamza Hidaythullah, Sri Lanka Rugby vice President Admiral H.A.U.D. Hettiarachchi and Nippon Paint Lanka Business Development Manager Dinesh Dilhan looks on - Pic by Ruwan Walpola 

By Shamzeer Jaleel 

Nippon Paint will come in as the sponsors of the Inter-Club League rugby tournament 2022, of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) which is already into its final stage of round one. The tournament will be known as the “Nippon Paint Rugby League”. Hats off to SLR for starting the Inter-Club League Tournament and conducting it so far without a sponsor and this partnership will take SLR and rugby in the country to a higher level.

Nippon Paint General Manager Nemantha Abeysinghe, a former rugby player speaking to Daily FT said: “This is a great opportunity to prop up with SLR and we have been in Sri Lanka for over 140 years and partnering with SLR is a great opportunity and we are here to continue in tandem with our sponsorship in the coming years as well. We have sponsored Cricket and Racing on earlier occasions” 

SLR President Rizly Illyas speaking to Daily FT said: “Sri Lanka Rugby is happy and excited with the partnership of Nippon Paints and sees the opportunity with this tie-up to bring about fan base competition giving the rugby fans the coating for them to take part and win fabulous prizes. The current sponsorship is only for the present Inter-Club League, Clifford Cup Knock out, and Inter-Club Sevens. Speaking further Illyas said: “During our discussions, Nippon Paint is very keen in sponsoring SLR assets which are tournaments such as International Rugby Sevens (Men’s and Women’s) Men’s 15 aside, Women’s Rugby under 21 and 24 Inter-Provincial Tournaments. Nippon Paint who has revolutionised the Paint industry together with SLR and our partnership is sure would boost SLR rugby to the next level of winning a medal in an international tournament and we are within that time zone with the up-and-coming Commonwealth Rugby Sevens, Asian Games, and Asian Sevens later this year.”