Volleyball: Sri Lanka gear up for centenary celebrations on Wednesday

In order to celebrate 100 years of Volleyball in the island, a special ceremony will be held at the Maharagama National Youth Service Council (NYSC) on Wednesday (7), with President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chief Guest. 

Volleyball was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1916 by American Walter W. Camack, Director of Physical Education at the Colombo YMCA. 

The exact date, however, cannot be traced. 

Sri Lanka is the first country to embrace Volleyball as its National Sport. 

The Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVF) was inaugurated on September 4, 1951. 

In 1992, the sport was declared the National Sport by former Sports Minister C. Nanda Mathew. 

Normally, a sport, when introduced, should be gazetted. 

But this has not been done and, whether it has been gazetted to date or not, cannot be ascertained. 

There is doubt regarding this, state those associated with the game over the years. 

The SLVF is making arrangements to launch a Rs.10 stamp under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, on December 7, who will also unveil a statue of a 'Volleyball player in action', which will later be displayed at the Colombo Museum, to commemorate the event. 

A book titled ‘Hundred Years of Sri Lanka Volleyball’ is also to be launched. 

The book, in English, Sinhalese and Tamil, is written by Susil Ranasinghe, a former SLVF Secretary. "A Volleyball was also taken around the island to obtain 1 million signatures of Volleyball fans. This Volleyball will also be on display on Dec.7 at the NYSC," said SLVF Secretary, A.S. Nalaka. 

Plans are also afoot to aid veteran Volleyball players, at this ceremony. 

Four finals of the Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Tournament will also be worked off on that day 7 at the NYSC from 8.00am to 6.00pm. 

They are: Under (U)-22 Men and Women and the Open Men and Women. 

Over 4,500 teams islandwide participated at the district-level competition. 

At 8.00am on December 7, will be the U-22 Women’s final, where Eheliyagoda Dharmapala SC and Casual Line SC Mawathagama have qualified. 

At 10.00am on the same day will be the U-22 Men’s final, where Ruwanwella Rajasinghe SC and Davisamara SC, Seeduwa will clash. 

At 1.00pm, the Open Women’s final will be worked off between Koswadiya Wijeya SC and Casual Line SC, Mawathagama. 

At 3.00pm will be the Open Men’s final between Katana Ekabedda SC and Debagama Ran Tharu SC. 

The winners of the U-22 Men’s and Women’s winning teams will receive Rs 100,000 each. 

The Runners-up will receive Rs 50,000 each, and third place winners will receive Rs 25,000 each. 

The Open Men’s and Women’s winners will receive Rs 150,000 each and the Runners-up will receive Rs 100,000 each.