Champion Railway spikers felicitated

Ranjeewa Seneviratne

The Sri Lanka Railway Department’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams which clinched the national titles and brought honour and fame to the department were felicitated at a ceremony held at Otters Acqualic club on Thursday.

The Minister of Transport Dulles Alahapperuma presented the numbers of the two champion teams with plaques in recognition of their achievement.

The Minister of Transport Dulles Alahapperuma speaking on the occasion thanked Chevron Lubricents for coming forward to sponsor the Sri Lanka Railways men’s and women’s volleyball teams which was the first time a mercantile firm had sponsored a volleyball team in the state sector.

The railway spikers had done the department proud by their achievements on the volleyball courts and hoped that the railway spikers will win more trophies this year.

He said that he will continue to look into the needs of the players and give his maximum support and paid a glowing tribute to coach Sumith Jayalal who had taken great pains to mould the men’s and women’s teams into champion outfits.

The Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Kishu Gomes said that his firm was delighted at the success of the Railway spikers who had won the men’s and women’s national titles.

The spikers should enhance their performance next year and go from strength to strength. Chevron Lubricants had helped to promote volleyball in a big way having earlier sponsored the Dhammissara MV, Nathandiya volleyball team which too had won several titles and pledged to support the Railway spikers in the future too in their endeavour to win more trophies.

The General Manager of Railways Dr. Lalithasiri Gunaruwan paid a glowing tribute to Minister Dulles Alahapperuma who was instrumental in obtaining the sponsorship package from Chevron Lubricants.

The firm had filled a big gap by providing financial support to the spikers of the Railway Department.

They have reached great heights by winning the national titles in both men’s and women’s tournaments which was a remarkable feat indeed. Although he had not played volleyball he would give maximum support to the Railway spikers as they are a determined lot who are capable of winning more titles in the future.

He felt that volleyball was a sport in which the country could achieve a high standard at Asian level.

The skipper of the Railways men’s volleyball team Maurice Chaminda and the captain of the women’s team Iresha Perera also spoke.