Over 4,000 players from 360 schools in the fray at Badulla
Skipper of the eight top ranked schools with the distinguished guests at the launch - Pic by Amila Gamage
The finals of the All Island Milo Inter-Schools Netball Championship 2017 conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Netball Association (SLSNA) and sponsored by Nestle Lanka Ltd have been slotted to be held from August 4 to 5 at Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla.
This was revealed at a press briefing held on Wednesday at Jaic Hilton Hotel. The tournament sponsored by Nestle Lanka Ltd for the 26th time this time will be conducted in three age groups comprising under 14, 16 and 18 as the under 12 category has been scrapped abiding to the circular sent to the schools by the Minister of Education.
This year the SLSNA have so far received confirmation from 360 schools around the island. The added feature this year is that there is an increase participation of schools from the north and east districts.
The preliminary rounds matches around the island namely Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Homagama, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Matale, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Badulla, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Ampara and Trincomalee was completed in the latter stages of July.
All the teams will be categorised into two divisions which will comprise as ‘A’ and ‘B’. The schools which consist of more than 1000 students will come under ‘A’ division while schools with below 1000 students will be included in the ‘B’ division.
Last year the finals were held at the Uyanwatte Stadium in Matara where the queens of school netball Holy Family Convent Kurunegala emerged overall champion for the ninth successive year. The girl’s from the rock city came out on top in the under 14 and 18 age groups while Visakha Vidyalaya took the under 16 title.
The champions in the Division ‘B’ category were Under 14 – Sirimalwatte KV Gunnepana. Under 16 – Bandarapola MV Matale. Under 18 – Ranjan Wijeratne MV Buttala.
The chief guest at the closing ceremony will be Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Facilities and Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Chief Minister Uva Province. - MSA