Delighted captains credit workplace for accomplishments in sports
View(s):In Sri Lanka’s fast-paced world of corporate, MAS Holdings has proven that success isn’t confined to boardrooms alone. The country’s leading apparel exporter has built a remarkable sporting culture within its ranks, with two inspiring captains — Yoshini Liyanage and Yasitha de Silva — leading by example in swimming and tennis.
For Yoshini Liyanage, Assistant Manager – Human Resources at MDS, water has always felt like home. “I started swimming when I was five,” Yoshini recalled.
TENNIS
Yashitha de Silva
“It wasn’t about medals back then. It was about having fun, staying fit and learning discipline.”
But what began as a childhood hobby soon transformed into a passionate pursuit. From athletics to synchronised swimming, and eventually water polo, Yoshini’s sporting journey is one marked by fighting spirit and steady strokes through life’s rough waters. Her love for swimming followed her into corporate life, where the Mercantile Swimming Championships became her new arena.
“When I joined MAS, I knew this was where I wanted to be,” she said, with a smile.
Appointed captain of the MAS swimming team for the 2024 meet — the first after COVID — Yoshini was thrown in at the deep end. Coordinating swimmers from multiple business units wasn’t easy.
“But like any relay, it’s about passing the baton smoothly,” she said.
Under her leadership, MAS made an impact by winning both Men’s and Women’s relay titles.
“It didn’t matter to me whether I swam in Team ‘A’, Team ‘B’, or not at all. What mattered was that the best people swam and that we reached the finish line first,” Yoshini said.
“We knew those relays were our trump card. It was like chasing a match-winning boundary in the final over.”
Meanwhile, on the tennis court, Assistant Manager of Group Operations Yasitha de Silva has been making headlines of his own. A former schoolboy prodigy, Yasitha picked up a racket at the age of six. Fast forward to this year’s Mercantile Tennis Championship, and he did the unthinkable — winning the men’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles, pulling off a rare triple crown.
“It felt like a Grand Slam weekend,” Yasitha grinned.
His journey too was paved with early morning practices and long hours balancing office work and court time.
“Some days you’re acing it at work, and other days you’re digging deep in a third-set tiebreaker. It’s about grit and grace under pressure,” he reflected.
Both captains credit MAS Holdings for encouraging a workplace that champions sports and wellness. “From flexible training schedules to world-class gear from Linea Aqua, MAS ensures its athletes are geared to win,” said Yoshini.
SWIMMING
Yoshini Liyanage
Yasitha added, “The culture here isn’t just about profit margins; it’s about personal bests, both on and off the court.”
The duo’s message to young professionals is simple.
“Train like an athlete, work like a boss,” said Yoshini.
“Balancing both isn’t easy, but with discipline, support and passion, you can have your cake and sprint with it too.”
In a corporate world obsessed with deadlines and targets, MAS Holdings’ commitment to sport reminds everyone that some of life’s best victories are won not at the desk, but in the pool and on the court.