Mercantile Volleyball Championship 2016 kicks off in August

Head table from left: Aruna Senanayake, Vice President of the MVA, Chandana Wijesinghe, Vice President of the MVA, Lakmal Jayasinghe, Vice President of the MVA, A.S Nalaka, General Secretary of the MVA, Col. Sujith Jayasekera, President of the MVA, Mangala Perera, Immediate Past President of the MVA, Saman Weerasuriya, Vice President of the MVA, Sudarshan Jayathilake, Vice President of the MVA

In a bid to foster goodwill and camaraderie as well as popularise the national game within Sri Lanka’s mercantile sector, the Mercantile Volleyball Association (MVA) has confirmed the dates for the 2016 Mercantile Volleyball Championship.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the tournament is being organised since its revival in 2012, when just 50 teams participated in the tournament, and the Organizing Committee expects to see over 100 men’s and women’s teams in this year’s competition. This upcoming edition of the tournament is set to be a highlight on the mercantile sector’s sporting calendar as well as on the nation’s sporting calendar, as this year marks the centenary of the introduction of volleyball to Sri Lanka. 

The tournament this year will be organised by an enthusiastic and energetic team, with Colonel Sujith Jayasekara (Senior General Manager – HR, Brandix Lanka Ltd.) serving as the President and an Executive Committee consisting of representatives of reputed Sri Lankan companies.

The tournament will be held under accepted national rules and regulations and provides an opportunity for both men and women to participate. Employees who have joined their respective organisation before 30 June 2016 are eligible to compete in it. 

The preliminary matches of the Mercantile Volleyball Championship 2016 are scheduled to be held at the Maharagama Youth Centre Court on 20 and 21 August, while the finals will be held on 16 and 17 September at the Maharagama Youth Centre Indoor Stadium.

Competition will be held across three categories - Super League, Championship and Division ‘A’, with the total prize money exceeding Rs. 1 million. The best men’s and women’s players will receive a motorcycle each in addition to the trophies for the winners, runners-up and the Best Player – Male  and Female under the categories of Best Setter, Best Attacker and Best Player.

The awards to be distributed among the different categories will be as follows:

Super League:   

Male: 

First place: Rs. 150,000 and trophy

Second place: Rs. 100,000 and trophy

Third place: Rs. 50,000 and trophy

Female: 

First place: Rs. 100,000 and trophy

Second place: Rs. 50,000 and trophy

Third place: Rs. 25,000 and trophy

Championship: 

Male: 

First place: Rs. 100,000 and trophy

Second place:     Rs. 50,000 and trophy

Third place: Rs. 25,000 and trophy

Female:    

First place: Rs. 80,000 and trophy

Second place: Rs. 40,000 and trophy

Third place: Rs. 25,000 and trophy

Division A:    

Male:

First place: Rs. 20,000 and trophy

Second place: Rs. 15,000 & trophy

Third place: Rs. 10,000 & trophy

Female: 

First place: Rs.20,000 and trophy

Second place: Rs. 15,000 and trophy

Third place: Rs. 10,000 and trophy

There will also be many other fringe events during the preliminary rounds and finals, such as the selection of the Lucky Team and the Best Coach, etc.

Through this tournament the Mercantile Volleyball Association seeks to provide a platform for the country’s budding netball players to seek job opportunities while also aiding them in their progress to higher levels of the national game. 

It is noteworthy that the Mercantile Volleyball Tournament has so far produced four national players, a trend it is eager to continue.  

Furthermore, the MVA is planning to felicitate a few veteran players at this year’s tournament and plans to continue this tradition going forward. 

A number of distinguished organisations have come forward this year as sponsors. Gold sponsors – Sunquick, Lanka Tile and David Pieris Motor Company; Silver sponsors – Damro and Expo Lanka (EFI); Bronze sponsors – Singer, Textured Jersey Lanka Ltd., Sri Lanka Insurance, Dialog and Vogue Tex Ltd. 

The closing date for applications will be 31 July. Further details can be obtained by calling Chandana on 0710682682 or Hiranya on 07772 963 170 or by visiting www.mercantilevolleyballsl.com. Interested parties can also email [email protected].

Applications can be posted to the Mercantile Volleyball Association, No. 33, Torrington Place, Colombo 7 with the envelope marked ‘Mercantile Volleyball 2016’ on the top left-hand corner.