Kandy Kings: Building More Than a Winning Franchise

From golf to tennis, pickleball and rowing, Kandy Kings is bringing together entrepreneurship, athlete development and a shared vision for the future of franchise sports in Sri Lanka. What began as a conversation about investing in a golf franchise has evolved into a much larger sporting ambition. Kandy Kings is establishing its presence across Sri Lanka's emerging franchise sports landscape, bringing together entrepreneurs who see sport not merely as a competition to be won, but as an industry with the potential to create opportunities for athletes, businesses and communities.

Founded by Michael Sathasivam, Rajitha Siriwardena, Sid Hirdaramani and Nirthaj Seelanatha, and later joined by Dihan Dedigama and Emmash Sudusinghe, Kandy Kings was established on a shared ownership model. Rather than placing the financial investment and responsibility on a single individual, the founders brought together their resources, business expertise and professional networks to build a sporting enterprise driven by a collective vision.

For Michael, whose career spans technology, international business and corporate transformation, the opportunity arose unexpectedly. An invitation to invest in a golf franchise was enough to spark his interest. Within minutes, he had decided to become involved. What followed was a decision that would shape the franchise's identity: bringing together partners who could contribute more than capital.

Golf was the starting point, but the founders soon recognised opportunities emerging in tennis, pickleball and rowing. Each sport presented a different competitive environment, community and pathway for growth.

Their investment in tennis delivered an early milestone when Kandy Kings claimed the 2026 Sri Lanka Tennis Premier League championship. Yet the ambition was never limited to collecting trophies. The franchise is exploring how sporting leagues can create opportunities for athletes beyond traditional national pathways, encourage careers in sports management and develop stronger connections between sport and business.

For Raise The Bar, we spoke with Michael Sathasivam, representing the ownership group, alongside pickleball team manager Devika Hirdaramani and captain Tuvini De Alwis, to understand the vision, decisions and people shaping Kandy Kings.

Michael Sathasivam: The Entrepreneurial Vision Behind Kandy Kings

Your professional career has been built around technology and business transformation. What attracted you to investing in a sporting franchise?

It happened quite unexpectedly. A friend approached me about investing in a golf franchise, and I made the decision within about two minutes. But I didn't want to do it alone. I believed there was greater value in bringing together a group of people with different experiences and expertise.

Some people advised me to retain ownership myself, but I preferred an equal partnership where we could share the investment, the risks and the rewards. That became the foundation of Kandy Kings. Each partner brings something different to the table, and that collective strength has helped us pursue opportunities across multiple sports.

You started with golf and subsequently entered tennis, pickleball and rowing. What drives the decision to invest in such different sporting disciplines?

We look at the potential of each sport and the opportunities it can create. Golf has an established community, while sports like pickleball are attracting people who may never have considered participating in competitive racket sports. Pickleball is particularly interesting because the barriers to participation are relatively low. People can take up the sport quite easily, and that creates opportunities for a much wider community. Rowing presents another possibility. Sri Lanka already has talent emerging from schools, universities, clubs and the armed forces. A franchise system could provide another competitive platform for those athletes. We don't necessarily want to wait until a sport becomes mainstream. Sometimes the opportunity is in recognising its potential early and helping build the ecosystem around it.

You have spoken about Sri Lanka reaching a turning point in franchise sports. What opportunities do you believe this model can create for athletes?

I think we're at an inflection point. One of the challenges in Sri Lankan sport is what happens to athletes after school. There is often a gap between school competition and reaching the national level, and many talented individuals lose their way during that period. Franchise leagues can help bridge that gap by creating additional opportunities to compete, gain exposure and remain involved in sport. Across our franchises, we have around 55 athletes. We are beginning to look at player contracts and longer-term relationships rather than treating every tournament as an isolated event. There is also an opportunity to develop sports management as a profession. As these leagues grow, athletes will need people who can help manage their careers and connect them with opportunities.

Kandy Kings won the Sri Lanka Tennis Premier League. What went into building that championship-winning team?

Tennis was a learning experience for me because I didn't know the competitive landscape as well as I knew golf. We brought in coach Sudhanta early, and his knowledge was invaluable. We developed a shortlist of players and approached the auction with a strategy. One of our biggest decisions was bidding for Tehan. We had initially budgeted around Rs. 200,000, but the bidding went up to Rs. 310,000. We almost stopped at Rs. 305,000, but decided to go that little bit further. That decision proved important. He brought leadership and energy to the team, performed when it mattered and helped bring the players together. The coach also pushed the team extremely hard. We didn't necessarily enter the tournament expecting to win, but the players delivered under pressure. It showed us that success is not simply about buying the strongest individual players. It's about putting together the right team.

How has your corporate experience influenced the way you approach sport, and what has this venture taught you about success?

My corporate career gave me the financial foundation to make investments like this, and it also taught me the importance of systems, people and long-term thinking. Technology and data can play an increasingly important role in sport. We've seen how statistics and performance information can improve the experience of competitions, and we're exploring ways to understand athlete performance more deeply. But what has surprised me is how personally rewarding this journey has been. There are challenges, particularly when you're trying to attract sponsors or convince people to believe in a sport that is still developing. You need people around you who share your commitment and are willing to work through those challenges. For anyone considering a new opportunity, my advice would be to surround yourself with the right people, understand what you're getting into and commit fully. You have to be prepared to put your heart, sweat and tears into building something meaningful.

Devika Hirdaramani: Building the Culture Behind the Franchise

While investment and strategy establish the foundations of a franchise, bringing athletes together requires a different set of skills. For Devika Hirdaramani, manager of the Kandy Kings pickleball team, the opportunity combines her lifelong involvement in sport with her interest in people and team development.

How did you become involved with Kandy Kings, and what made you accept the role of team manager?

My husband, Sid, is one of the investors in Kandy Kings. He knows how passionate I am about sport and thought this would be an interesting opportunity for me. When I met Michael, Rajitha, Nirthaj and the rest of the group, I felt our values aligned. They suggested managing the pickleball team, and it seemed like a natural fit. I've always enjoyed working with people and combining that with sport made it an opportunity I wanted to explore.

You grew up in a sporting family in India. How has that influenced your perspective on pickleball?

My parents were both very sporty. My mother played tennis at the national level in India and encouraged my sister and me to participate in different sports. I grew up playing tennis and badminton. When I moved to Sri Lanka, I continued finding communities through racket sports. Then padel and pickleball came along. What I enjoy about these sports is that they bring a strong social element into physical activity. They're accessible to people of different ages and abilities. Pickleball may be easier to take up than tennis, but once you start competing seriously, you realize how much strategy, skill and athleticism it requires. Most importantly, it gives people another reason to remain active and connected to a sporting community.

Kandy Kings competes across very different sports. How do you create a common identity among its athletes?

Every sport has its own personality, and I don't believe they should all be made to look or feel the same. Golf, rowing and pickleball are very different. But what connects them should be the values of the franchise: competitiveness, camaraderie, team spirit and pride in representing Kandy Kings. Players need to feel that they belong to something larger than themselves. As a manager, that's what I want to build within our team.

What was your approach to selecting players, and what will determine whether the team succeeds?

There is already a surprisingly large pickleball community in Sri Lanka. When we began researching players for the auction, we discovered a wide pool of talent. We looked at their abilities and considered who would fit the team. I believe we've selected a group we're happy with, but selecting players is only the beginning. Now it's about developing relationships, understanding which players complement one another and building a sense of unity. A successful team isn't simply a collection of the strongest individuals. It's about how effectively those individuals work together.

Tuvini De Alwis: From National Tennis to Pickleball Leadership

For Tuvini De Alwis, captain of the Kandy Kings pickleball team, the franchise represents an opportunity to carry the lessons of competitive tennis into a new sporting environment. Having represented Sri Lanka internationally and experienced the franchise's tennis championship victory, she understands both the demands of competition and the importance of team spirit.

You have represented Sri Lanka in tennis. What encouraged you to take up pickleball?

Tennis has always been my main sport. I started playing at a very young age. I initially tried pickleball for fun with friends. Because I had a tennis background, I thought I might be quite good at it. But as I began playing with stronger players, I realised how different the two sports are. Pickleball may look easy, but competitive play requires a lot of patience, control and decision-making. In tennis, you're used to a much larger court and generating power through your strokes. In pickleball, you need to control the ball in a smaller space and understand when to attack. Having a tennis background helps, but it doesn't automatically make you a good pickleball player.

What lessons from Kandy Kings' tennis championship are you bringing into your role as pickleball captain?

Of course, we want to win the pickleball league too. But one of the most important things about our tennis team was that we worked like a family. We emphasised supporting one another and having each other's backs, whether we won or lost. I want to bring that same mindset into pickleball. When you know your teammates are supporting you, it reduces some of the pressure. I want everyone to look back on the experience and remember how much they enjoyed being part of it, just as I remember the tennis league.

You've moved from representing Sri Lanka in tennis to captaining a pickleball franchise. What would you tell young athletes about exploring new opportunities?

Tennis is what opened this opportunity for me. Through playing tennis, I gained exposure, met people and eventually became involved in Kandy Kings. I think young people should try different things and pursue what they're passionate about because you never know where those experiences might lead. I've had coaches tell me that even when you lose, you should keep going and give it your best. That's something I believe in. Not everyone will become a national player or win every tournament, but if you enjoy a sport, keep playing, keep learning and make the most of the opportunities that come your way.

Beyond the Championship

Kandy Kings' journey reflects a broader shift in how sport can be developed in Sri Lanka. What began as a collective investment in golf is evolving into a multi-sport venture that connects business ambition with competitive opportunity. For Michael, the challenge is building a sustainable franchise and recognising potential before it becomes obvious. For Devika, it is creating the culture that allows individuals to perform together. For Tuvini, it is embracing new opportunities while remaining committed to the values learned through sport. Their perspectives reinforce a common idea: winning may bring recognition, but the greater measure of a sporting franchise lies in what it continues to build. As franchise competitions expand across Sri Lanka, their long-term value may depend on whether they can create pathways for athletes, strengthen sporting communities and establish professional opportunities beyond the playing field. For Kandy Kings, the championship is already part of its story. The larger ambition is to build something that outlasts the result.