SriLankan Airlines-Travel Trade cager champions

BASKETBALL: SriLankan Airlines once again emerged champions of the Travel Trade Basketball Tournament, which it has dominated since the inception of the event four years ago.

The superb display of basketball skills from the National Carrier resulted in both teams from the airline going undefeated in the league stage and entering the semi-finals, which they both won with ease and qualified to play each other in the final. SriLankan 'A' then defeated SriLankan 'B' by 23-12 to claim the championship.

Eight teams participated in the tournament, which was sponsored by SriLankan Airlines and organised by the SriLankan Airlines Sports Council for the second successive year, at the Royal College Sports Complex in Colombo recently.

The National Carrier places great emphasis on sports in order to promote qualities such as leadership and teamwork among its 6,000-strong staff, and there are activities in nearly 30 sports and games ranging from archery to cricket, at various skill levels - international, mercantile, travel trade and inter-departmental. The SriLankan Airlines basketball teams are coached by Dimitri Ramnareshwara.

Dilhan Wijesinghe of SriLankan Airlines 'A' was adjudged the Most Valuable Player, while Udaya Ratnasiri of SriLankan Airlines 'B' received the Most Promising Player Award.

In the league stage, SriLankan 'A' playing in Group 'A' beat a combined team from Walkers Tours and Trans Asia Hotel; then defeated Aitken Spence Travels and received a walk-over from Taj Samudra Hotel. In Group B, Sri Lankan 'B' beat Walkers Tours, a combined team from Aitken Spence Travels and Ace Conventions, and then a combined team from Riverina Hotel and Club Palm Garden.

In the first semi-final, SriLankan 'B' beat the combined team from the Walkers Tours and Trans Asia Hotel by the close margin of 14-12. The second semi-final was a lopsided affair with SriLankan 'A' overwhelming Walkers Tours by 36-7.

In an exhibition match played between the SriLankan Airlines Women's team and Anula Vidyalaya, SriLankan triumphed by 28-21.