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Mercantile Volleyball Association President Colonel Sujith Jayasekara addressing the media
The Mercantile Volleyball Association of Sri Lanka is once again organising the annual Mercantile Volleyball Tournament in a bid to popularise the national sport and to widen interest in the game in the mercantile sector. Over 100 teams participated in last year’s tournament and the Association hopes for a much larger response this year.
A member of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation said this is the fifth successive year the Association is holding the tournament since its revival in 2012 after a lapse of five years.
Sunquick Lanka AGM Marketing Nisha Karunaratnna and Scan Products Promotion Manager Mano Prasad handing over the gold sponsorship to MVA President Colonel Sujith Jayasekara
The key objective of the Association is to provide a meaningful avenue for mercantile employees to be free of mental fatigue, whereby participating in sports can enhance their performance. Volleyball being a team sport helps to build team spirit among the employees, thus benefitting the organisation they work for. The game also helps to unearth hidden sporting talents among the employees while helping them to improve their health.
This year’s tournament will be held in August and September. It has now become a regular feature in the annual sports calendar in the Mercantile Sector. A number of well-known business and brands have joined in the excitement by coming forward as sponsors: Platinum Sponsor – MAS; Gold Sponsors – Sunquick, Lanka Tiles, Brandix, Expo Lanka Holdings PLC (EFI), Etisalat and David Pieris Motor Company Limited; Silver Sponsors – SINGER, Damro and Sri Lanka Insurance.
The tournament is held under the accepted national rules and regulations and provides an opportunity for both males and females to participate.
The preliminary rounds will be held at the Maharagama Youth Services Court on the 18, 19, and 20 August, while the finals will be held on 16 and 17 September at the Maharagama Youth Services Indoor Stadium.
To qualify for participation, the players should have served in their respective companies for a minimum of two months. Meanwhile, new clubs can register until 31 July.
The tournament will be held under three categories – Super League, Championship & Division ‘A’. Prize money for the winning teams will exceed Rs. 1.5 million and the best players will receive a Scooty for women’s and motor bicycle from men’s categories. Trophies will be awarded to the winners and runners-up and to the best player – male and female.
The closing date for applications will be 9 August. Further details can be obtained by calling 0710 682 682 (Chandana) or 0776485456 (Buddhi) or logging on to www.mercantilevolleyballsl.com or by e-mailing [email protected].
Applications can be posted to The Mercantile Volleyball Association, No 33, Torrington Place, Colombo 7 with the envelope marked ‘Mercantile Volleyball 2017’ on the top left-hand corner.