HNB partners 86th Battle of the Saints for the 2nd consecutive year

March 5, 2020

Jonathan Alles, Managing Director/CEO of HNB, flanked by the Principals and of St Joseph’s and St Peter’s Colleges, the Captain of the Josephian cricket team and the organising committee

Sri Lanka’s leading private sector bank HNB PLC, will power the 86th Battle of the Saints annual cricket encounter between St. Joseph’s College and St. Peter’s College, as the platinum sponsor for the second consecutive year.

The leading catholic schools from Colombo are set to battle it out for the Rev. Fr. Maurice J. Le Goc Trophy at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium – oval grounds on March 6 and 7.

HNB Managing Director/CEO, Jonathan Alles presented the sponsorship cheque to the two principals, Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, Rector of St. Joseph’s College and Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo, Rector of St. Peter’s College.

“We are delighted to once again come forward as sponsors for one of the most hotly anticipated events in the Sri Lankan cricketing calendar. For generations, the Battle of the Saints has been etched in the minds of all who have passed through the hallowed halls of these great institutions. We consider it an honour to continue our support for the values, traditions and rich history of sportsmanship which this match represents to every schoolboy – past and present,” HNB Managing Director/CEO, Jonathan Alles said.

This year, the Josephians will be led by all-rounder Johanne De Zilwa, while the boys from Bambalapitiya will be under the captaincy of wicket-keeper/batsman, Shannon Fernando. St. Joseph’s has been victorious on 12 previous occasions, while St. Peter’s has taken the trophy home on ten occasions, over the 85 encounters held between the schools.

HNB too has had a long-standing relationship with both St. Joseph’s, and St. Peter’s College – the latter of which is home to one of the very first HNB Student Savings Units (SSU) in the country. Successive generations of students have benefitted from HNB accounts and their experience at the SSUs, which have helped not only to inculcate the savings habit from a young age among students but has also laid the foundation for a stable and secure future through savings for higher and tertiary education.

HNB has also been working to deepen its engagement with both schools, with a strong emphasis on introducing new technology-enabled banking services to students and staff to help prepare them for life in an increasingly digital world. HNB’s suite of electronic banking solutions includes Payee Partnerships and easy-to-use POS devices that enable hassle-free collections together with HNB PAYFAST – a convenient and reliable platform for payment of salaries, EPF, ETF and any other additional payments as needed.

Additionally, HNB has also provided other special facilities to cover the entire school community, including teachers, students, and related parties as their preferred banking partner.