The Mercantile Volleyball Association recently announced the dates of one of the most anticipated sporting events in Sri Lanka’s mercantile calendar - the Mercantile Volleyball Championship 2019. 

 

The tournament was introduced as a means of fostering goodwill and comradeship among the local mercantile fraternity, while at the same time popularizing the country’s national sport. Following its revival in 2012, which saw the participation of fifty teams, the Mercantile Volleyball Championship celebrates its 8th year with an anticipated total of over one hundred teams in both the men and women’s categories. 

 

This year’s championship is being organized by a passionate and spirited team led by Mr. Lakmal Jayasinghe, the General Manager of Sri Lanka Telecom, and an executive committee made up of representatives from reputed companies in Sri Lanka. 

 

The tournament will be held under the designated national rules and regulations. Employees who have joined their respective organizations before the 30th of June 2019 are eligible to participate. 

 

The preliminary matches of the Mercantile Volleyball Tournament 2019 are scheduled to be held at the Maharagama National Youth Centre Court on the 7th and 8th of September, while the finals will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of November at the Indoor Stadium of the National Youth Centre in Maharagama.

 

The tournament will be held under three categories - Super League, Championship and Division ‘A’ with the total prize money exceeding One Million Rupees. Best Players (Men and Women) will receive a motorcycle each in addition to the trophies for 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 & trophy

           Second place: Rs. 100,000 & trophy

           Third place: Rs. 50,000 & trophy

 

Female - First place: Rs. 100,000 & trophy

               Second place: Rs. 50,000 & trophy

               Third place: Rs. 25,000 & trophy

 

Championship: 

 

Male - First place: Rs. 100,000 & trophy

            Second place: Rs. 50,000 & trophy

            Third place: Rs. 25,000 & trophy

 

Female - First place: Rs. 80,000 & trophy

               Second place: Rs. 40,000 & trophy

               Third place: Rs. 25,000 & trophy

 

Division A:

 

Male - First place: Rs. 30,000 & trophy

            Second place: Rs. 20,000 & trophy

            Third place: Rs. 10,000 & trophy

 

Female - First place: Rs. 30,000 & trophy

               Second place: Rs. 20,000 & trophy

              Third place: Rs. 10,000 & trophy

 

There will also be many other events to keep the excitement high during the preliminary rounds as well as during the finals, such as the selection of the Lucky Captain and the Best Coach etc.

 

The Platinum Sponsor of the tournament is MAS Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, while the Gold Sponsors are Sunquick, Brandix Lanka Limited, Lanka Tiles, David Pieris Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd, Expo Lanka (EFI) and Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). The role of Silver Sponsors has been taken on by Omega Line Limited and Ocean Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. The Bronze Sponsors of the event are Maliban Biscuits, JAT Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Asia Broadcasting Cooperation (Pvt) Ltd. 

 

Through this tournament, the Mercantile Volleyball Association seeks to provide a platform for budding volleyball players in the country to receive good opportunities and aid them in the achievement of higher levels in the national game. The Mercantile Volleyball Championship has so far produced four National Players and strives to continue the trend.  

 

The MVA has made a tradition of felicitating veteran players on an annual basis, recognizing their service and contribution to the national game. 

 

The closing date for applications will be the 15th of August. Further details can be obtained by calling 0710 682 682 (Chandana) or 077 648 5456 (Buddhi) or by logging on to www.mva.lk or by e-mailing mvasrilanka@gmail.com

 

Applications can be posted to The Mercantile Volleyball Association, No 33, Torrington Place, Colombo 7.