In Sri Lankan school rugby, corporate sponsorship remains largely focused on a limited number of established schools that offer clear commercial visibility and measurable marketing returns for sponsors.

The decade-long association between George Steuart Health and Science College Rugby represents an alternative approach.

The partnership has centred on long-term support aimed at strengthening the school and its students, rather than prioritising short-term commercial outcomes. Over the past ten years, George Steuart Health has supported ground development, training and conditioning facilities, medical services and player nutrition, aligning its assistance with the programme’s changing requirements.

These measures have contributed to maintaining training standards and continuity within a rugby structure that serves many students from modest backgrounds in the Mount Lavinia community.

For these students, rugby provides discipline, structure and mentorship. Access to maintained grounds, functional training spaces and stable welfare support enables them to train and compete in an environment that would otherwise be difficult to sustain.

Importantly, this commitment has not been tied to competitive cycles. There have been seasons of rebuilding and challenge, yet the partnership remained consistent – a rarity in a sponsorship landscape often driven by results.

At the centre of this association has been the personal commitment of George Steuart Health Managing Director Eran Ranasinghe. 

A distinguished alumnus of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, his support for Science College Rugby reflects a broader commitment to youth sport within the Mount Lavinia community, extending beyond individual school affiliation.

Over the past decade, 15 Science College players were able to represent Sri Lanka at youth and senior levels – a pathway made possible through the sustained infrastructure, training environment and programme stability supported by George Steuart Health.