Ritzbury sponsors 32 athletes to power Olympic Dream
As international track & field events, including the postponed 2020 Olympics, prepares to get underway, Sri Lanka’s athletes have received an important boost in the form of the Ritzbury Mawbimata Weerayek initiative.
Ritzbury, Sri Lanka’s No.1 brand of Chocolates from CBL Foods International (PVT) Ltd, has a longstanding tradition of fostering sporting talent in the country, and as the next step on this mission, will be supporting 18 of the country’s best and brightest prospects to reach greater heights and bring glory to the motherland.
Apart from paying Rs 25,000 each for the 18 National athletes per month since 2019, they also now power 14 junior level athletes with Rs 5,000 per month to make it 32 athletes altogether. To top that, they also announced that coaches of the 18 National athletes too will receive Rs 10,000 per month, at the launch held at Taj Samudra Hotel on last Thursday (4th).
Ritzbury has a proud 15-year long history of supporting sports in Sri Lanka, including athletics, squash, swimming, rugby and tennis. By putting the sportsperson first and foremost over the years, the brand has become synonymous with success in the Sri Lankan sports arena, elevating the profiles of National sportspersons whilst providing them the resources and financial support to excel at home and abroad. Key amongst these initiatives in track and field events has been Ritzbury’s longstanding support of the Ritzbury Sir John Tarbat School Athletics Championship, the all-important stage where the next generation of Sri Lankan National athletes are identified.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Nilupul de Silva, General Manager (Marketing) of CBL Foods International said: “As the No. 1 chocolate brand in the country, it is apt that we are supporting Sri Lanka’s No. 1 athletes. Too often our athletes are forced to abandon their dream of an Olympic podium finish due to various hardships. It is our sincere hope that through the Ritzbury Mawbimata Weerayek initiative, our athletes can overcome these hurdles and sprint towards Olympic Gold. We are committed to continuing and expanding this program in the years to come.”
Former national sprinter and Sri Lanka record holder, Ineka Cooray Wickremesinghe, currently a member of the selection committee at the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka said: “As an athlete who was fortunate enough to compete on the international track, I am grateful to Ritzbury for the support, motivation and encouragement they continue to give to our young athletes, even through the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am confident that the Ritzbury Mawbimata Weerayek programme will help produce the country’s first Olympic Gold medalist in the future.”
Many of Sri Lanka’s brightest prospects in athletics hail from rural areas and often compete in less-than-ideal circumstances, lacking financial and professional support. Ritzbury views the support of these budding young talents as an integral part of the brand’s corporate social responsibility agenda and takes great pride in the brand’s association with the future champions of the nation.
“All heroes need their support crew.Through the Ritzbury Mawbimata Weerayek programme, we are grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to be part of the support team of the next generation of Sri Lankan heroes,”de Silva said.
National Athletes who receive Rs 25,000 per month
Sumedha Ranasinghe, Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva, Aruna Darshana, Amila Jayasiri, Himasha Eashan, Kupun Kushantha, Roshan Dammika,Seniru Amarasinghe, Nimali Liyanarachchi, Shelinda Jansen, Nadeesha Ramanayaka, Ineka Cooray, Dilshi Kumarasinghe, Amasha de Silva, Lakshika Sugandhi,Nilani Rathnayaka, Indunil Herath, Sreshan Dhananjaya ,Vidusha Lakshani
Junior Athletes who receive Rs 5,000 per month
Kavindi Sanjana, Amesha Hettiarachchi,Ishara Pallegama, Navishka Sandeesh, Rashmi Kavindya, Sadeepa Henderson, Kavindi Thathsarani, Shanika Lakshani, Janidu Lakvijaya, W.K.Piyasiri, Harsha Karunarathne, Sadini Kaveesha, Dilan Bogoda
