MALIBAN STRENGTHENS YOUTH SPORTS COMMITMENT THROUGH S. THOMAS’ COLLEGE HOCKEY
Colombo, Sri Lanka: Maliban, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and enduring homegrown brands, has renewed its title sponsorship of the S. Thomas’ College Hockey Programme, continuing a partnership that reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to youth development and sport in Sri Lanka.
The renewed partnership follows a good 2025 season, during which S. Thomas’ College showed strong potential across the school hockey circuit. Backed by Maliban’s support, the Thomians continued to build confidence, discipline, and team strength, creating a solid foundation to aim higher and perform better this year.
Hockey has been an integral part of S. Thomas’ College since 1929, producing generations of accomplished players, national representatives, and championship-winning teams. This year, the College will mark the 25th Royal-Thomian Hockey Encounter, regarded as Sri Lanka’s biggest and most crowd-attracting school hockey big match. S. Thomas’ College currently leads the Royal-Thomian tally with 10 wins, while Royal College has secured nine wins, with five encounters ending in draws.
Another key fixture will be the 20th Trinity-Thomian Hockey Encounter, where S. Thomas’ College also leads the tally with nine wins, while Trinity College has recorded seven wins, with the remaining encounters ending in draws. These annual encounters continue to showcase the competitive spirit and proud heritage of Thomian hockey.
By extending its partnership for another year, Maliban continues to invest in a programme that nurtures discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience, values that closely mirror the company’s own journey of more than 70 years as a trusted Sri Lankan household brand.
Commenting on the renewed partnership, Positha Perera, Group Head of Corporate Communications at Maliban Group of Companies, said, “At Maliban, we believe sport is one of the most powerful platforms for shaping character and inspiring future leaders. Our partnership with S. Thomas’ College Hockey has shown the potential of young talent when they are given the right encouragement and opportunities. Following a good season last year, we are delighted to continue this journey and support the next chapter of Thomian hockey.”
The Warden of S. Thomas’ College welcomed the continuation of the partnership, noting that Maliban’s support has played an important role in strengthening the College’s hockey programme while creating greater opportunities for its student athletes to compete and improve.
Duminda Karunaratne, Secretary of the Old Thomians Hockey Union, expressed appreciation for Maliban’s continued confidence in the programme, stating that the renewed sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to preserving and advancing one of Sri Lanka’s oldest school hockey traditions.
Head Coach Chandana Bandara added that the continued partnership provides valuable encouragement to the players as they prepare for another competitive season and work towards stronger results this year.
Through its continued support for S. Thomas’ College Hockey, Maliban reaffirms its belief that investing in youth sport is an investment in Sri Lanka’s future. By helping young athletes pursue excellence both on and off the field, the company continues to strengthen a legacy built on trust, opportunity, and the pursuit of excellence.
