Railways Sports Club enters final for first time
The curtain comes down on Munchee National Volleyball Championship organized and conducted by the Volleyball Federation of Sri Lanka tomorrow when the finals of men and women take place at the Sugathadasa Indoor stadium commencing at 1.00p.m. The championship was sponsored by the Ceylon Biscuits Limited.
In the men’s final Sri Lanka Ports Authority will confront Sri Lanka Railway Sports Club at 3.0p.m. while in the women category it will be Sri Air Force women who will clash with the Sri Lanka Railway Sports Club for the Munchee National Championship Trophy.
This year’s championship was a highly competitive one which was conducted in three stages The Secretariat level, Provincial level and the national level to find the champions for 2008. The other highlight was the participation of teams from Northern District of Jafna.
From the beginning of the tournament a total of 2272 teams for the two categories competed before the final stage.
These matches were held in various parts of the country.
This was done with a view to popularize the sport in all parts of the Island and also to bring in the rural talent that was in abundance but which did not come out to the scene as they did not have the opportunity to show their prowess. The tournament at large has catered almost to the whole island.
Railway Dept. Sports Club entered the final for the first time.
They are powered by the Caltex also for the first time came up with flying colours to show their superiority to the country as well as to the sponsors from which they too get the required mileage.
Their entry in to the final will show the other Government Institutions the way to enter the sporting arena on a big scale.
Meanwhile on the other hand Sri Lanka Ports Authority team which has made their way to many finals in the recent past come out as favourites to face new comers Railwaymen this Saturday.
They are expected to give their best in this game to reign supreme. Sri Lanka Ports Authority in the semifinal overcame Comfortwear Sports three sets to two. Incidentally this was the only game that was stretched to the maximum of five sets. In the other semifinal in the men’s category Sri Lanka Army lost to Railway Sports Club in straight sets.
The women’s section Casualwear went down to Sri Lanka Air Force in a hard fought semifinal 3-1, meanwhile Sri Lanka Ports Authority had to bow out of the final losing to Railway Sc also with the same margin.
The winners of each category are to receive the Munchee trophy and cash awards amounting to Rs. 100,000 each, while the two runners up team too will go away with Rs. 50,000 and 25,000each.
There are many special cash awards on offer for players who come out Best performances in different sections of the game.
The minister for Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge will be the chief guest at the finals will give away the awards. The others who are expected to grace occasion as guests of honour are Sports Minister Bandula Basnayake, Minister of Transport Dallas Alahapperuma, Minister for Youth Affairs Mrs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, President of the Volleyball Federation and the Minister Justice and Ports Development Dilan Perera.
Men:
Sri Lanka Ports Authority team from: Lasantha Perera (Captain), A.S.D.S.P. Dissanayake, N.A. Udaya Rukmal, Chandima Dissanayake, Roshan Thilanga, T.C. Adikari, Ravindra Welshan, Dimuthu Nishantha,G.D.L.P. Dayaratne, K.D. Chaminda Dharshana Kumara.
Sri Lanka Railway Sports Club team from: P.G. Morris Chaminda (Captain), P. Melan Jayawardene, A.H.S. Malinda Silva, U.A. Niluka Perera, J.A. Chanaka Madushanka, G.M. Chamara Mihiran, P.W.D. Prabath Kumara, D. Sudesh Chamley Fernando, J. Wanura Madushanka, T.K. Anujshka Priyadharshana, H.P. Chamila Nishan, G.A.D.R.Y.S. Guneratne.
Women:
Sri Lanka Air Force team from: S.N.A.Jayaratne (Captain), Y.D. Sewandi Hewage, D.Kapila Kumari, N.L.Y. Priyadharshani, S.A. Nadeeshani Samaraweera, P.R.A.P. Ranasinghe, A.M.S. Ajantha, S.N.L. Guneratne, B.M. Visakha Basnayake, D. Thanuja Dharshani de Silva, M.S.N. Chanchala Fernando, K.A.B.D. Jayasinghe.
Sri Lanka Railway Sports Club team from: W. Irosha Udayangani (Captain), A. Iresha Surangani Perera, K.K.G.L. Gunewardene, R.H. Nayani WAthsala, B.G.S. Gunasinghe, H.A. Chandani Karunaratne, A.M.N.S. Abeysinghe, M.S. Chanchala Fernando, Hasanthika Sewandi, M.K.G.L. Mirihamgalle, Lakshika Muthumali.
By Bernard Perera
Source: Daily News
Tags: government institutions, national championship, provincial level, railway, sports club, volleyball championship
