‘Play for a Cause’ Supports Four Underprivilege Schools in 2023

Navin Pieris, Group Chief Officer, Dialog Enterprise, Dialog Axiata PLC handing over the sponsorship cheque of the 143rd Battle of the Blues to Rev. Fr. Mark Billimoria, Warden – S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia and R M M Rathnayake, Principal – Royal College, Colombo flanked by recipients of the four schools and Executive Committee of the Royal – Thomian Joint Match Organising Committee.

‘Play for a Cause’, the sustainability project of the ‘Battle of the Blues’, the annual cricket encounter between Royal College, Colombo, and S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, identifies and gifts cricket equipment to four deserving schools which are in need of such equipment.

Madampagama Central, Galle, Zharia college, Hambantota, Sewamuktha Vidyalaya, Polonaruwa, Mihinthale Vidyalaya were selected as the worthy beneficiaries by the Royal-Thomian Cricket Joint Match Organising Committee under the aegis of the Principal of Royal College, Colombo, Mr R M M Rathnayake and Warden of S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Rev. Marc Billimoria.

As a kind gesture of uplifting schools’ cricket, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC made a pledge to contribute 1,000 rupees for every run scored and 10,000 rupees for every wicket that fell. Last year’s exciting encounter contributed 834,000 rupees to the 'Play for a Cause pledge. Since the inception of the ‘Play for a Cause’ pledge, 8,442,800 rupees worth of cricket gear has been donated to thus far to 40+ deserving schools.

The ‘Battle of the Blues’ is one of the most celebrated school-level sports encounters in Sri Lanka and has a rich and colourful history spanning 143 years to date. It is also distinguished for holding the honour of being the second longest uninterrupted cricket series played in the world, second only to the annual encounter played between St. Peter’s College, Adelaide and Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, Australia, which began just a year earlier.

Dialog Axiata is the proud sponsor of the Sri Lanka National Volleyball, Netball and Esports teams. The Company also has a close association with the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tourneys, Schools Rugby, Premier Football and Paralympic sports by powering the Army Para Games, National Para Games and the Sri Lankan contingent to the World Paralympic Games.