147th Battle of the Blues Thomian Saddlebreds get ready for a fun-filled cricket big match

On behalf of the title sponsor for the Thomian Saddlebreds Tent, Darin Weerasinghe, Director of the High Octane Fitness & High Octane Evolution, is seen exchanging the sponsorship documents with S.Thomas’ College Warden Asanka Perera, the Old Boys’ Association Secretary Imran Hassan (Pix by Kithsiri De Mel) 

The Property Development Partner for the event, Keith Handaragama - Group Manager representing Fairway Holdings, exchanging the token of sponsorship with the warden of the college, Asanka Perera and Secretary of the Old Boys Association, Imraan Hassan

The chaplain of S.Thomas College, Rev Samuel Ponniah, leading the audience with a prayer

The Warden of S’ Thomas’ College, Asanka Perera speaking at the media briefing

By Manjula D. Phillips 

One of the key events of the inter-school big match calendar, the Royal-Thomian cricket big match will take place from March 12 to 14 next year at the SSC grounds in Colombo. In connection with the annual cricket big match, an announcement was made to the media about the relaunch and sponsorship exchange of the Thomian Saddlebreds Tent. This media briefing was conducted by the officials of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia Old Boys’ Association at the college premises on November 26. 

The event was held with the participation of key stakeholders of the Thomian fraternity, as they marked the official unveiling of major upgrades planned for the Thomian Saddlebreds Tent.
Next year, at the big match, Thomian Saddlebreds are expected to attract more participation from the old boys from S.Thomas’ College. This tent provides many fun-filled activities for old boys at the big match.
The Organizing Committee spoke about having a strong focus on enhancing the overall entertainment experience. They plan to introduce leading youth bands in the likes of Watalappan and Freeze, along with two top-tier DJs and a high-energy Papare band to preserve the true Big Match spirit. The highly anticipated fun activities promise entertainment to be remembered on Day 03 of the match with extended live performances.
Significant upgrades to tent infrastructure were revealed, including an improved layout, mist cooling systems, strategically placed fans, and multiple high-definition TV screens to ensure maximum comfort and uninterrupted live match viewing. A structured all-day meal plan is on the cards to enhance guest experiences.
The committee emphasised a strengthened digital strategy through an extensive social media campaign across the OBA fraternity. This will help Saddlebreds and partner platforms to maximise visibility and engagement ahead of the event.
Sponsors were acknowledged as the backbone of Saddlebreds, with the organisers expressing gratitude to the leading sponsors who have already come on board. The organisers also invited more brands to join the platform for a high-impact engagement with a dynamic audience.
“We encourage more young school leavers to take part in this event this year. This tent offers much enjoyment and excitement to the old boys. We hope many old boys will buy tickets and witness the sporting event. I am truly thankful to the OBA for organising this tent,” said Asanka Perera, the Warden of S. Thomas’ College. 
The 147th edition of the ‘Battle of the Blues’ is expected to produce some unforgettable memories as expected. The title sponsor for the tent is High Octane Fitness and High Octane Evolution, while Lemonade, UCL and Fairway Holdings act as Platinum Sponsors. Freeze, Wattalappan and Rev Eats are the event partners.         
The event concluded with the announcement that the Saddlebreds 2026 tickets will be released soon.