Janashakthi powers St. Joseph’s College Rugby

Janashakthi Insurance has signed up as the Principal Sponsor of the St. Joseph’s College Rugby Team for 2011. Janashakthi’s Managing Director Prakash Schaffter and Chairman St Joseph’s College Sports Council & Chairman Hornets Association Lalith De Mel inked the agreement.

Janashakthi Managing Director Prakash Schaffter (second from left) shakes hand with St. Joseph’s College Sports Council Chairman and Hornets Association Chairman Lalith de Mel whilst exchanging the sponsorship agreement. Others from left are Ravi Liyanage, Janashakthi’s GM Sales and Marketing, Manik Pereira (Vice Chair St. Joseph’s College Hornets Association) and Sumith Adhihetty (Co-Head of Finance, St. Joseph’s College Hornets Association)

Janashakthi’s Managing Director Prakash Schaffter said that the Company is proud to sponsor the St. Joseph’s College Rugby Team. “We all know that rugby is a game that fires great passion across the whole of Sri Lanka, be it at school, club or national level. It ignites enthusiasm across all boundaries, and, is with no doubt, a unifying force in this country. School rugby produces and nurtures great players who invariably play club rugby and later at national level. This partnership is a win-win situation for both parties and we’re confident of a superlative performance through 2011 which will see the St. Joseph’s College Rugby Team emerge champions with JIPLC”.

The SJC 1st XIV rugby team was last year’s undefeated ‘B’ Division Champions and also Cup Runners-Up at the Zahira 7s 2010. The Under 16 team was the Western Province Champions and All Island Runners-Up last year. Captained by 19 year old No. 8 Malintha Soyza, the SJC rugby team 2011 has eight seniors this year and is well balanced. It enjoys a very good track record, is highly motivated and is expected to create a few upsets this season. The team is coached by Sunanda Fernando and ably assisted by Bilal Yusuf.

Rector of St. Joseph’s College Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ranasinghe said, “We’re thankful to Janashakthi Insurance for this very generous sponsorship. It will help us to upgrade our training equipment, invest in our players and further raise standards. St. Joseph’s College has always been at the pinnacle of excellence, be it in studies, sports or any other activity among popular schools in Sri Lanka.”

“Through its many gallant sportsmen over the years, the College has demonstrated its essential qualities of virtuousness, strength and honour on and off the field. Rugby, though not always gaining the success that it should have among popular sports at St. Joseph’s, has always churned out young Josephians who have not only been blessed with skill but have also been great ambassadors of their country, school, and for the game as a whole,” the Rector added.

Janashakthi has always supported sports and sportsmen and women. Best known for its long association with cricket, it has sponsored several Sri Lankan test cricket series during the past few years. Its current Brand Ambassador is national player Ajantha Mendis. Janashakthi also has two national cricketers on its staff – Suranga Lakmal and Isuru Udana, together with the reigning South Asian Games High Jump Gold Medalist Priyangika Madumanthi.

Janashakthi has also just launched its annual Athletes Sponsorship Programme for the third consecutive year whereby 8 outstanding outstation student athletes come under its wing. Among them are Ishara Sandeepani Dayananda (Best Athlete at the National Youth Sports Festival for the past three consecutive years) and Amali Harshini (First in the 100 M Hurdles at the Thailand Open Athletic Championships 2010).

It has parallely extended its support to several other sports at national level such as hockey, squash, rowing and sailing thus reiterating its commitment to the long term development of sports in Sri Lanka.