Milo schools netball from 30 July

By Shamseer Jaleel

The final stages of the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Championship will be worked off from 30 July to 1 August at the Uyanwatte Stadium in Matara.

Sponsored by Milo for the 25th year, the tournament marks the silver jubilee year with the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association (SLSNA) and the Education Ministry. The championship has attracted over 1,000 schools island-wide after it started with just 27 schools back in 1991.

The matches will be under13, under14, under16 and under 18. As many as 360 teams will be participating in this year’s tournament and accommodation will be provided in four Matara Schools – Sujatha Vidyalaya, Rohana Maha Vidyalaya, St. Mary’s Convent and Mahamaya Maha Vidyalaya. The opening ceremony will be held on 30 July with the participation of the Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.

The qualifying tournament for this event was conducted in 15 centres. Tournaments took place in Ampara, Kandy, Matale, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Kalutara, Homagama, Ratnapura, Puttalam, Galle, Badulla, Matara, Gampaha and Colombo. Two qualifying tournaments were completed (Matale and Anuradhapura).

Matale District qualifiers:

Under 14 A: Sri Sangamitta Vidyalaya Matale, St. Joseph’s BV Gampola, Vijeya NS Matale, Wickramabahu National School

Under 14 B: Bandarapola MV Matale, Harangala MV, Nagolla Siddartha MV, Sujatha MV

Under 16 A: Bauddha Vidyalaya Gampola, St. Joseph’s BV Gampola, Poramadulla MMV, Sri Sangamitta Vidyalaya Matale

Under 16 B: Bandarapola MV Matale, Sujatha Balika MV, Harangala MV

Under 18 A: Wijayapala MV Matale, Bauddha Vidyalaya Gampola, St. Joseph’s BV Gampola, Sri Sangamitta Vidyalaya Matale

Under 18 B: Bandarapola MV Matale, St. Thomas’ Girl’s School, Sigiriya MV

Anuradhapura District Qualifiers:

Under 14 A: Eppawala Siddartha MMV, Medirigiriya National School, Ananda BV, Thopawewa MV

Under 14 B: Allewewa MV, Atharagallewa MV

Under 16 A: Ananda BV, Royal Central, Swarnapali BMV, Medirigiriya National School

Under 16 B: Allewewa MV, Atharagallewa MV, Mudunegama MV, Daluggala MV

Under 18 A: Eppawala Siddartha MMV, Ananda BV, Walisinghe HMV, Royal Central

Under 18 B: Daluggala MV, Ranayapura MV