24th Annual CASA Six-a-Side Softball Cricket Tournament

Gents Winners (Harbour Serve Ltd.)

CASA, the voice of the shipping industry held its 24th Annual Six-a-Side Softball Cricket Tournament on 11 and 12 February at the NCC grounds, Colombo.

The tournament is the most awaited and looked forward to sporting event in the Calendar of CASA activities year in and year out. Since its inception in the year 1994 the popularity of this tournament has grown over the years among the members with the increasing number of teams participating in the gents and ladies segments of the tournament. The introduction of the Mini Tournament for the Stakeholders a few years ago has sparked more interest and enthusiasm in the event.

All the participating teams enjoyed the tournament due to the high standards maintained and the efficient organisation done by the CASA Sports Committee.

In 2023, the event consisted of 64 gents’ teams and 28 ladies’ teams along with a large number of spectators who attended the event to support the participating teams.

Harbour Serve Ltd. emerged as the winners in the gents’ tournament and Freightplan Ltd. won the ladies’ tournament. Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. won the Invitation Mini Tournament. Uthpala Bandara of MSC Lanka Ltd. and Nuwan Kumarasiri of Salota International Ltd. emerged as the Best Players of the tournament in the ladies and gents categories respectively.

At the completion of the tournament the awards ceremony followed with Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Keith Bernard as the Chief Guest.

This year’s event was graced by many distinguished personalities who also graciously attended the awards ceremony. Harbour Master Capt. Nirmal Silva, Colombo International Container Terminals Group Chief Business Development Officer and Hambantota International Ports Group Chief Operating Officer Tissa Wickremasinghe, Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. General Manager Commercial and Marketing Catriona Jayasundera and South Asia Gateway Terminals Chief Commercial Officer Ted Muttiah, Hambantota International Port Services CEO Capt. Ravi Jayawickrema were among the distinguished invitees.

Salota International Ltd. Managing Director Kolitha Wickeramasinghe, CASA Chairman Shehara De Silva, CASA Vice Chairman Shano Sabar, CASA Treasurer Janesh Rathnadasa, Capt. Ajith Peiris, Capt. A.V. Rajendra from the CASA Advisory Council and CASA Secretary General Ralph Anandappa attended the awards ceremony.

Apart from CASA members, annually there’s active participation in the Invitation Mini Tournament with Sri Lanka Ports Authority, South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd., Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd., Sri Lanka Customs, Colombo Dockyard PLC and Hambantota International Port Group which contributes and strengthens in stakeholder bonding. Colombo West International Terminals Ltd. joined this group effective this year.

The success of this tournament is greatly attributed to the generous sponsorships received from the principal sponsor and other sponsors.

Salota International Ltd., and all the other key sponsors namely Prudential Shipping Lines Ltd., Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd., Hambantota International Port Group, Clarion Shipping Ltd., Centrum Marine Consultancy Ltd., South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd., Colombo Logistics World Ltd., Abanchy Ceylon Ltd., Inchcape Mackinnon Mackenzie Shipping Ltd., CL Synergy Ltd., Colombo Dockyard PLC, Hayleys Advantis Ltd., McLarens Holdings Ltd., Aitken Spence Shipping Ltd., Sea Consortium Lanka Ltd., Maersk Lanka Ltd., Far Shipping Agency Lanka Ltd., BTL Lanka Ltd., Unifeeder Lanka Ltd., Youngship Sri Lanka and Fairway Colombo.

Also appreciated was the support extended by all CASA members, well-wishers and other stakeholders. The tournament was organised and presented by the Sports Committee and the Membership Activities Committee of CASA.

Gents Runners up (Salota International Ltd.)

Ladies – Winners (Freight Plan Ltd.)

Ladies – Runners up (Ceyline Shipping Ltd.)

Mini Tournament Runners up (Sri Lanka Ports Authority)

Mini Tournament Winners (Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd.)