The Hambantota Sports Club (HSC), in partnership with Anchor, launched an island wide programme for schools aimed at boosting the overall development of Sri Lankan youth, with emphasis on sports.
The launch kicked-off at Science College in Mount Lavinia, with the attendance of Yoshitha Rajapaksa, captain of the national rugby team as the chief guest.
“The HSC was established based on a concept of Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa with the aim of taking sports to all corners of the country. It is important that parents realise that, in addition to academics, sports and proper nutrition are equally important in a balanced, healthy life of a child,” said Rajapaksa about the event.
The programme will reach 600 schools across the country, and will see HSC conducting a two-day interactive session for the children as well as their parents. These sessions will include coaching camps, and arts and crafts competitions; all activities designed to recognize and develop the skills of the youngsters.
“From its inception, the objective of HSC has been to groom the future generation of the country into a sporting force to be reckoned with, and to this end, it is with great pride and excitement that we launch this initiative,” said Ravin Du Plessis the CEO of HSC.
“When considering the most appropriate collaborator for this long-term journey, I believe we could not have chosen any other party than Anchor as our nutritional partner. The right nutrition is imperative for optimal performance in school, a key message we hope to reiterate through this programme,” he added.
This initiative will reach approximately 300,000 children. All of these children will have the opportunity of interacting with expert coaches in various sports, all of which will furnish them with the inspiration and encouragement to reach their full potential.
“It is a great pleasure for Anchor to be involved in such a progressive project. We’re excited about the difference it will make for the development of Sri Lankan youth,” said Roshan de Silva, Marketing Director for Fonterra Brands Lanka.
The most immediate aim of this initiative is to build a strong contingent to represent the country at the Asian Youth Games in 2017, which Sri Lanka will be hosting in Hambantota.
“It will by far be the biggest sporting event staged in Sri Lanka; a great opportunity to prove Sri Lanka’s sporting powers to a world audience,” Du Plessis further added.
