Kurunegala and Galle spikers steal the limelight

Wehelle Piyathilake Maharagama Special Correspondent

Kurunegala District team (women) and Galle district team (men) clinched the championship titles at the 25th Youth Services and Rupavahini Volleyball Tournament held recently at Kolonna Public Grounds in Ratnapura District.

The captain of Kurunegala District receives the Championship Challenge Cup from the chief guest Youth Affairs Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi. The Deputy Director General of the Rupavahini Corporation Major General Sunil Silva and Chairman and Director General of the NYSC Baswara Senanka Gunaratne are also in the picture.	The best women’s spiker Leena Sandamali (Kurunegala) on left and the best men’s player Mohan Sanjeewa (Galle). Pictures by Wehelle Piyathilake, Maharagama Special Corr.

Kurunegala and Puttlam women’s teams qualified for the finals by winning the semi-finals played at the National Youth Services Indoor Stadium recently.

From the men’s tournament Gampaha and Galle District teams qualified for the finals.

In the finals Kurunegala Women’s team emerged victorious 3-0 and bagged the women’s challenge cup and Rs. 100,000 in cash. Runner-up Puttlam team (women) received Rs. 50,000 in cash.

At the men’s final Galle men’s team scored a hard fought 3-2 win and won the challenge cup and Rs. 100,000 in cash. Runner-up Gampaha team received Rs. 50,000 in cash. 600 teams (Men’s and Women’s) participated at the tournament including North and East.

Out of them 21 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams took part in the semi finals. More than 6,000 sportsmen and sportswomen participated in the tournament.

The best players selected at the finals were Lina Sandamali (Kurunegala) and Mohan Sanjeewa (Galle).

They were presented with Rs. 5,000 each. The chief guest at the prize presentation ceremony were Youth Affairs Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and the chairman of the Volley Ball Federation and Port Development Minister Dilan Perera, Irrigation Minister Jayathissa Ranaweera.

Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councillor Kanchana Jayaratne, Secretary to the Ministry S. Wirithamulla, Deputy Director General of the Rupavahini Corporation Sunil Silva and the Chairman and the Director General of Youth Services Council Bhaswara Senaka Gunaratne also graced the occasion.

The National Youth Services Council, Youth Affairs Ministry, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and Ratnapura District Volleyball Association jointly organised the tournament.