Perera & Sons fuels 141st Royal-Thomian cricket encounter

From left: Royal College Captain Thevindu Senaratne, Royal-Thomian Match Committee Joint Secretary Roshan Adams, Royal-Thomian Match Committee Co-Chairman Prasanna Fernando, Royal College Principal B.A. Abeyratne, P&S Sales Manager Isuru Rathnayaka, P&S Consultant Food and Beverage Mohan de Silva, S. Thomas Acting Warden Asanga Perera, Royal-Thomian Match Committee Co-Chairman Mahesh Nanayakkara, Royal-Thomian Match Committee Joint Secretary Kumudu Warnakulasuriya, and S. Thomas College Captain Thevin Eriyagama

Cricket runs in the veins of every true-blooded Sri Lankan. Taking this commitment a step further, beloved home-grown bakery brand P&S recently came on board as the official food partner of the 141st cricket encounter between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia.

Fondly known as Roy-Tho, the ‘Battle of the Blues’ for the prestigious D.S. Senanayake Memorial Shield will be held at the SSC Ground over 12-14 March. In this year’s encounter, the boys from Mt. Lavinia will be led by Thevin Eriyagama and the lads from Reid Avenue will be under the captaincy of skipper Thevindu Senarathne.

The Royal-Thomian has a rich and colourful history of 141 years as the second-longest uninterrupted school cricket series played in the world (second only to the annual encounter between St. Peter’s College and Prince Alfred College, Australia, begun just a year earlier). Commencing in 1880, the first match was played at the then-Galle Face Green, the present-day location of the Taj Samudra hotel. This was the start to the Centenary series that has today become a favourite during the Big Match season, not just for the respective schools but for all cricket fans alike.

P&S officials commented on the sponsorship, saying, “We are proud to sponsor this historic event, the Battle of the Blues, which has redefined the concept of inter-school cricket and built itself up to be a sporting event of national importance. We believe it not only results in a loss or triumph, but also encourages an idea of passion, determination and a sense of togetherness among both young and old generations alike, which ultimately contributes to the foundation of our nation’s future. As a brand that has served Sri Lankans from all walks of life over the past 118 years, we feel this momentous event is directly in line with our strategy to encourage all Sri Lankans to stand together to reach global heights.”