CDB empowered Olcott Sports Foundation wins the Bandula Warnapura Annual T20 Cricket Encounter

Colonel Henry Steel Olcott Foundation trounce MCA Legends at annual T20 encounter

CDB committed to support sport, community empowerment

The Colonel Henry Steel Olcott Memorial Sports Foundation (CHSOMSF) Legends emerged triumphant at the Bandula Warnapura Memorial Annual T20 Cricket Encounter 2025, winning back the trophy from the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) Legends team. Played on the MCA Grounds on the 29th of March, the series stood 3 to 1 in favour of the CHSOMSF Team which was skippered by 1996 World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga. Several renowned cricketers, past and present, participated in the tournament. First played in 2022 , the tournament was sponsored by Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) for the first time this year.

Congratulating both teams for their impressive displays of athleticism and sportsmanship, being well respected values within CDB, , Hasitha Dasanayake, Chief Sales and Digital Business Officer of CDB, said, “By sponsoring this T20 tournament, named after one of the nation’s most illustrious cricketers and Sri Lanka’s first test captain, Bandula Warnapura, CDB augments the value of sportsmanship and the need for teamwork in the pursuit of results.  We are committed to supporting sports as a vital extracurricular activity because it engages and develops values and principles among youth while fostering community empowerment. All these elements come together and spur  national progress and holistic development.”

 A right-handed opening batsman and medium pace bowler with a career spanning from 1975 to 1982, Bandula Warnapura also captained Sri Lanka’s first test match where he had the rare distinctions of facing the first delivery, scoring the first run, opening the bowling, and the batting for the second innings. Sri Lanka’s first victory in ODIs, where Warnapura scored a half century, marks yet another victory him.

“Warnapura played and triumphed during Sri Lanka cricket’s fledgling years where he proved that, through enthusiasm, commitment, and sportsmanship, he could shape Sri Lanka’s future in cricket to what it is today,” added Dasanayake. “CDB celebrates that commitment among young people. Being a part of this memorial T20 tournament, allows us to take heart that more Sri Lankan youth may be instilled with the same indelible values that will influence their career trajectories and personal aspirations.”

About CDB

Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) stands among the top four largest Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) in Sri Lanka and recognized for its innovation in financial services, steadfast commitment to sustainability and adherence to exemplary corporate governance. With a focus on digital transformation, CDB continues to redefine the financial services landscape by offering cutting-edge solutions that align with sustainable development goals.