Nestle Lanka Director (Dairy) Ruwan Welikala ( third from left ) handing over Milo schools Netball sponsorship to President of Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association Nirodha Abeywickrama. Others from left: Bandula Egodage Vice President Nestle Lanka, Sajeewa Wickrmasinghe Nestle Lanka Activations Senior Manager ,Shiromi Kuruppu Secretary of Schools Netball Association and Treasurer Shamen Withanawasam and P.A.Kamal Sri Kanchana Tournament Secretary (pic by Sudath Malaweera)
School Netball players will get an opportunity to showcase their talents when more than 360 teams (4320 players) in the age group under 13,15,17 and under 19 play in the final stage of the 30th Sri Lanka Schools Milo Netball Championship which will be held at Gallella Public grounds Polonnaruwa from September 2 to 4.
This time more then 1400 teams participated in the first round of this Milo tournament which was conducted on a center basis. Last year only 700 teams took part in the first round but this time it has increased to 1400 with A and B divisions. This is a boost for Netball said President of the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association Nirodha Abeywickrama who is the Principal of Maliyadeva Balika Kurunegala.
Nestle Lanka Ltd makers of Milo have come foward to sponsor this tournament for the 30th consecutive time which is a good platform to unearth talented players from the school level said Schools Netball Chief.
The highest number of 90 teams from under 13 age group and 60 teams from under 15, 17, 19 age group will compete in this tournament while each group winners and runners up will receive Milo champions trophy and runners up trophy. In addition each age groups best shooter ,best defensive player ,best center court player will receive individual awards from Milo which is a great encouragement for school Netball players she said.
Schools from Galle, Matara, Kurunegala, Kandy, Ratnapura, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Matale, Gampaha, Kalutara, Homagama, Colombo centers took part in the first round games while this time more rural schools are involved in this tournament said Abeywickrama.
Bandula Egodage Vice President of Nestle Lanka (Corporate and Regulatory Affairs) said they are very keen to support this tournament while more National players have been unearthed from this Milo tournament and best two examples are National captain Gayanjali Amarawansa and Dulangi Wannitilleka both of whom are products of the Milo Schools tournament.Giving sponsorship continuously for 30 years by Nestle Lanka is not an easy task especially at this difficult period said Egodage.
The opening ceremony of the Milo Schools Netball tournament will be held on September 2 with Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe as the chief guest and Ruwan Welikala Director (Dairy) Nestle Lanka,Upali Amarathunga Education Ministry Sports Director and Assistant Director of Sports Education Ministry Dilruk Jayawardena also will grace the occasion while closing ceremony on final day on September 4, Education Minister Susil Premajayanth, Private Secretary to the Minister Hementha Prematilleka and Nestle Lanka senior officials will be present.
