Chinese company signs MoU with SL Volleyball Association to host Galaxy Cup 2021

The Sri Lanka Volleyball Association (SLVA) is going to host the first Sri Lanka Volleyball tournament titled the ‘Galaxy Cup Volleyball Championship’ which will be sponsored by Chinese companies.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in a ceremony on Wednesday which was attended by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and  Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation Vice President Kanchana Jayarathne.

Speaking at the ceremony, Siyambalapitiya said volleyball was Sri Lanka’s national sport and such a tournament funded by Chinese companies would be a historical moment for the sport in the island country.

“We have had uncountable volleyball tournaments in Sri Lanka’s history but this is going to be the first time that a foreign company is sponsoring a tournament. Hence this is going to create a new path for the future of Sri Lankan volleyball,” Siyambalapitiya said.

The tournament will be held from 16 March to 23 March with participation of 10 male volleyball teams and eight female volleyball teams.

Jayaratne said the Sri Lanka Volleyball Association planned to hold five national volleyball tournaments in 2021, with the Chinese sponsored  ‘Galaxy Cup Volleyball Championship’ being the highest-profile event in Sri Lanka’s volleyball history to date. The Chinese promoter of the volleyball tournament said that Chinese enterprises not only hoped to improve the level of volleyball in Sri Lanka with the support and cooperation of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Association, but also expand the areas of cooperation between China and Sri Lanka and enhance sports exchanges between the two countries. The game of volleyball was introduced to Sri Lanka back in 1916 and it was a three member committee in 1992 that decided to make volleyball the national sport in Sri Lanka.