Office Premier League plans third tournament in August

Thursday, 25 July 2019 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New initiative following successful conduct of six-a-side cricket tournament in 2018 and futsal championship in June this year

Office Premier League (OPL) is planning its next tournament, a six-a-side cricket tournament on 24 August at Shalika Grounds Colombo-5.

OPL is a sport league for cricket, basketball and futsal. It is a tournament where Sri Lanka companies come together on one stage and battle for one trophy.

Its inaugural event was the six-a-side cricket tournament on 18 August 2018 at Nawaloka Grounds, Welisara and the second was a Futsal Tournament 2019 in June at Colombo Futsal Club, Dehiwala.

Explaining the origins of OPL a spokesman said that always few reputed companies participate on sports events and even for mercantile there are only few companies play all the time. “We want some kind of high-brand competitor to mercantile event as well and we want to draw companies who are not always in to sports. We promote sportsmanship hence our tournaments does not give away cash prizes,” he added.

OPL founder is Aravinda Samath Ladduwahetty who works as Senior UX LEAD at 99X Technology and HEX team.

In the first event in 2018 – a six-a-side tournament, there was participation from 24 teams. They included SriLankan Airlines, BRISCA Management and BPO Services, M.I. Synergy Ltd., Virtusa Corp – Jollyboys, Virtusa Corp – Highrates, Eyepax IT Consulting Ltd., IDEA Group, S.A. Knowledge Services Ltd., Orit Trading Lanka, Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Lanka Ltd., CodeGen A, CodeGen B, Regent Caterers Ltd., Procons Infotech Ltd., Ascentic, 99x Technology – Blacks, 99x Technology – Reds, Brandix Apparel Solution, Enexisis, Best Western Hotel, Community Strength Development, Kalbe International , SCB Corporate and Dilmah – MJF Charitable.

The winners were SriLankan Airlines and runners-up were Brandix.

In the second tournament which was a futsal competition, 24 teams participated. They were Sri Lankan Airlines, Virtusa A/B/C, ITX 360, Ikman.lk, Codegen A/B, Eyepax, IFS A/B, WSO2, 99X A/B, Loyala, Softlogic Life, Seven Media, Visolit, Hsenid Mobile, Inexis, Synergen Health, Sysco Labs, Greenland and Maersk Lanka.

Champions were Greenland Commodities and runners-up were SriLankan Airlines.

Speaking about the future events, the spokesman said: “We will be continue this and want to do this as a district-wide company tournament and want expand this to all the sports. We will be starting basketball tournament pretty soon as well.”