On 30th July, cricketing fans were able to witness a nail-biter as Fairfirst Insurance successfully chased a victory target of 230-runs with just two wickets and nine balls to spare. Fierce competition was put forth by the Maliban bowlers; however, towards the end of the day, Fairfirst’s nerves of steel pushed them across the winning total amidst loud cheers and non-stop papare music continued towards the late hours at MCA grounds. The phenomenal encounter between two leading corporates in Sri Lanka ended on a high with Fairfirst Insurance crowned as Champions at the National Development Bank (NDB)-sponsored Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) Premier League 2022.
The journey which led Fairfirst to the MCA Premiere League Championship is a great example of how friendship and engagement within an organisation can fuel its grit towards constantly pushing to be the best at what they do. For Fairfirst, this journey started in 2018 when they took part in the MCA “G” Division and emerged runners-up in the tournament. In 2019, they were the “F” Division champions and in 2022 became the “E” Division runners-up. As records show, although they played in most finals, their nerves got the best of them in their ability to clinch the championship title. However, this time around the team was able to write their very own success story by gaining insights through hindsight as they became Champions in the Premier League Tournament packed with world-class talent.
In speaking about this grand win, Sanjay Siriwardena, Chief Sales Officer and Team Manager, stated: “First of all, well played to the team for giving their all throughout the MCA series and finally achieving what they deserved. This win is a celebration of our togetherness as a company. And at a time when the external environment is surrounded by doom and gloom, this victory gives each one of us the belief that as a company, we can navigate turbulent waters together and come out as champions.”
Lakshan Perera, Fairfirst Cricket Team Captain, commented on this highlight, saying: “This win goes out to my team for making us the Champions at the finals. But there’s more to our journey; it doesn’t just stop here. We are at a stage of pushing through to the next tiers of the tournaments, and we believe we are more than ready to take it on in the spirit of success, togetherness, and fun.”
Appreciating the dedicated efforts of the cricket champions, Sandeep Gopal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fairfirst Insurance, stated: “The way things are done at Fairfirst is defined by our brand values of Empathy, Authenticity, Transparency, and Social Responsibility. As a result, the talent and attitude of individuals are always prioritised over the traditional hierarchy which usually creates divisions amongst larger teams.
“Our cricket team is the perfect example of this value-driven ethos as they represent how individuals from a varied set of departments, geographies, and demographics within the organisation can come together and achieve incredible results. I am extremely happy and proud of each team player for making their love for cricket a valuable strength of teamwork, success, and a way of life. Well played to the team.”
Fairfirst Insurance serves individuals, businesses, and institutions across this beautiful island through a versatile workforce of 1,400 spread across their comprehensive branch network, affinity partners, and leading brokers in the market. Working as a close-knit team, pushing boundaries and embracing a fun-at-work culture enables them to be the best at what they do, both on and off the field.
