SriLankan Airlines-Travel Trade Netball Champs

NETBALL: The SriLankan Airlines Netball Team proved unbeatable as it overcame all opposition to be crowned Champions of the Annual Travel Trade Netball Tournament at the St. Joseph's College ground recently.

SriLankan Airlines once again stepped forward to support the travel industry by sponsoring the tournament, along with the 28th Annual Travel Trade Sports Club Soccer Sevens, which were played simultaneously.

In the Netball Tournament, which was contested by nine teams, SriLankan Airlines played a well-balanced game combining its many strengths and overwhelmed Hemas Travels in the Final by 21 points to 7. SriLankan Airlines has dominated this tournament, winning almost every year that it has been held.

Earlier, SriLankan Airlines easily disposed of Hilton Colombo in the Semi-Final 24-4. Prior to that, SriLankan Airlines dominated its Round Robin matches, beating Trans Asia by 21 points to 3 and Galadari 23-1.

The leader of each group and the Best Scoring Team from among the other six teams qualified for the semi-finals, namely SriLankan Airlines, Hilton Colombo, Club Palm Garden and Hemas Travels.

SriLankan Airlines' Captain Melanie Nicholas led from the front and was well supported by the entire team which comprised of Lakshani Goonathilake, Aeshini Perera, Manori Hettiarachchi, Nadeesha Bastians, Neelika De Silva, Mihirini Perera, Jayani Dissanayake, Nilanka Fernandopulle, Tamara Senanayake and Hansa Hewawasam.

Melanie was adjudged the Best Player of the Tournament. Manori Hettiarachchi excelled in defence and was selected as the Best defence Player of the Tournament. Mihirini Perera was chosen as the Best Centre Court Player of the Tournament.

In the Soccer Sevens, no less than 25 teams from Sri Lanka's Travel and Hotel industries participated.

Traveller Global 'A' emerged Cup Champions, with SriLankan Airlines 'B' becoming Runners-Up, with the score in the Final being 2 goals to nil. SriLankan 'B' had earlier defeated Amaya Hills in the Quarter-Final and Lighthouse Hotel in the Semi-Final.

SriLankan Airlines 'A', which lost to Lighthouse Hotel in a Quarter-Final, became Bowl Champions when they beat Galadari Hotel in the Bowl Final.

D.C.G. Jayasinghe, Captain of SriLankan Airlines 'B', was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.

In the first stages of the tournament SriLankan Airlines 'A' beat Neptune Hotel and Cinnamon Grand Hotel, while SriLankan Airlines 'B' beat Club Palm Garden Hotel and Seashell Hotel, both of the National Carrier's teams qualifying for the Quarter-Finals.

Ian Dunning, Senior Manager Engineering Maintenance at SriLankan Airlines and Mrs. Dunning, were the Chief Guests and presented the awards. The guests of honour were Sunil Dissanayake (Chairman of the SriLankan Airlines Sports Council) and Mrs. Dissanayake.