Cricket: Luxe Asia win UN World Tourism Day title

Luxe Asia beat Sri Lanka (SL) Tourism Development Authority to win the inaugural Cricket Carnival held to celebrate United Nations World Tourism Day (UNWTD) in Sri Lanka. 

The champion team had Ranga Pradeep, Thajul Riaz, Hussam Hayas, Rizwan Kuwaildeen, Tharanga de Silva, Shanendra Fernando, Kajenth Thanabalasingham and Salmaan Haque playing prominent roles. 

The trophy was sponsored by Antiquity, a brand of Raffles Leisure. 

Runner-up SLTDA had Samantha Kumara, Chinthaka Dias, Upul Sanjeewa, Aruna Prasanjeewa, Sudesh Rohan, Manoj Kumar, Mahesh Rathnasena and Asanka Lokuge were members. 

The Runners-up trophy was sponsored by Visit Lanka. 

A total of 26 teams from the Travel and Hospitality industry and 8 teams from the University Tourism Study Programme, including a Lecturers’ team participated. 

There were several games lined up during this event to build more networking amongst all participants and add colour to the event. 

The highlight of the Cricket Carnival was that, one player, Ranga Pradeep of Lux Asia, bagged all the individual awards and prizes on offer for Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Most Sixes and Man-of-the-Series. 

The Best Batsman's trophy was sponsored by Lanka Super Corals, along with a certificate and a night's stay on half-board at Lanka Super Corals. 

The Best Bowler's trophy was sponsored by Tangerine Tours, along with a certificate and a night's stay at Thilanka Hotel, Kandy, while the Most Sixes trophy was sponsored by Regent Spice Garden, along with a certificate and a night's stay at Kassapa Lions Rock. 

The Man-of-the-Series trophy was sponsored by Turkish Airlines, along with a certificate, a night's stay at Coco Royal Beach Resort and an Airline ticket to any European destination through Turkish Airlines. 

The event was organised by the Executive Diploma of Tourism Events and Hotel Management, under the Dept of Economics of the University of Colombo, for the first time, to celebrate the UNWTD in Sri Lanka. 

The event was held under the UNWTD theme of “Tourism for All - Promoting Universal Accessibility”.