Battle of the Blues from March 11 to 13

The 131st Battle of the Blues between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College which is regarded as the oldest school cricket encounter in the world will be worked off from March 11 to 13, 2010 at the SSC grounds. This year this most looked forward to sporting event will be sponsored by Etisalat.

The Chairman of the Match Organizing Committee Akmal Sathuk speaking at a press briefing at the Colombo Hilton thanked Etisalat for coming forward to sponsor the event for the next three years and said that the sponsorship will help immensely in developing sports in the two schools. The match will be played in a friendly atmosphere and any mischief makers will be evicted from the grounds.

The Principal of Royal College Upali Gunasekera said that it was a special occasion for his school which celebrates its 175th anniversary. Many old boys who are residing abroad will be visiting Sri Lanka to witness this match and he hoped both schools will play cricket of a high standard to the delight of the spectators and lauded Etisalat for sponsoring this encounter.

Warden of S. Thomas’ Rev John C. Puddefoot said that it is a great pleasure to embark on a partnership with Etisalat as principal sponsor of the matches from 2010 to 2012. “I look forward to a keenly contested match played in the best traditions of these two schools so that the spectators will get their money’s worth.

The CEO of Etisalat Lanka, Dumindra Ratnayake said that his firm is proud to be associated with this oldest schools cricket match in the world which brings about team-spirit egged on by healthy competition between these two schools.