Fiat rewards local sporting hero at the National Sports Festival

The Sri Lankan heavy weight triumph, Chinthana Geethal Vidanage was awarded with a brand new Fiat Linea at the successful conclusion of the 36th National Sports Festival held at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy earlier this week.

The award was presented by the Speaker of the Parliament, Minister Chamal Rajapakse and the Minister of Sports, Minister C.B. Ratnayake, who attended the event as honoured Chief Guests. The local representative of Fiat Sri Lanka, Mr. Ishara Nanayakkara and the Group Managing Director of LOLC, Mr. Kapila Jayawardena were also among the distinguished gathering at the Awards Ceremony.

Chinthana, who emerged on top as the “Sportsman of the Year” was the first recipient of the Rs. 3 million worth new luxury car, which is yet to be introduced to the local automobile market.  This was the first time that an award of this magnitude was offered in this category at the National Sports Festival, and the first time that Fiat Sri Lanka has sponsored a national level sporting event of this kind.

Commenting on Fiat’s entry into the local sports sector, Mr. Ishara Nanayakkara of Fiat Sri Lanka said, “In early next year, Fiat is set to make a grand comeback to the Sri Lankan automobile market yet again, with its latest, and fast selling models.  All around the world, Fiat is recognized for its speed, dynamism, versatility, and excellence in performance - the very essence around which the concept of sports is also built. We are confident that Sri Lanka will capture this essence of the Fiat brand. In time, Fiat Sri Lanka will come to be known as a major catalyst that boosted the local sporting industry and the local automobile market”.

The global Fiat brand has a rich history of close association with sports. In keeping with this rich tradition, Fiat Sri Lanka previously came forward to sponsor the India-SL-NZ Triangular Series held this year. With its latest entry into the National Sports Festival, Fiat Sri Lanka has re-entered the Sri Lankan automobile sector with a larger purpose at hand. That is, by following in its parent organization’s footsteps, Fiat Sri Lanka will actively engage in bringing the national level sporting triumphs to an international level. By recognizing and rewarding the efforts and talents of local sportsmen and women,  the country’s very own glory-bringers in the likes of Chinthana Vidanage will be offered with many opportunities to take their sporting careers to highest levels of achievement.