Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Wednesday, 18 September 2013 00:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Mercantile Athletic Meet is open to employees of the private sector and caters to both men and women in all age groups covering novices, masters and championship categories. The two-day event will consist of 332 events and attract nearly 2000 athletes who will compete for 30 trophies. With 40 companies participating at the mercantile meet this year, Hilton Hotel, PG Martin, Commercial Credit and Swiss Holdings will be the new additions.
Commenting on the meet, Mercantile Athletics Federation President Gihan Kandulawa said: “CBL Group Director and Head of Marketing and Sales Nandana Wickramage, a patron of the Mercantile Athletic federation, has supported this event for ten years. We are grateful to him and the Ritzbury team for giving many athletes the opportunity to compete and pursue their talent further in athletics.”
Elaborating further Kandulawa said: “In order to increase the level of competition this year, we have taken the initiative to invite an Indian and Nigerian team to compete at the meet. This will enable our athletes to perform at a higher standard.”
“One of the core objectives of the Mercantile Athletics Federation is to promote athletics in the mercantile sector and encourage athletes to continue their sporting ability even after leaving school. We are proud to partner such a prestigious event and give the opportunity to many athletes to showcase their sporting talents. Ritzbury will be sponsoring this for the fourth consecutive year, and we hope many athletes in the private sector will reach greater heights through this meet,” CBL Foods International Ltd. Marketing Manager Nilupul De Silva said.
The event this year will feature prominent Sri Lankan athletes, such as the 110 metre hurdles record holder Amali Jayawardena, Sri Lanka’s current high jump record holder Priyangika Maduwanthi, 1991 SAF games medal holders, Dhammika Manike and Deepika Rodrigo.
“On the final day of the championship, an over 60 race, a children’s race and an invitation schools relay with the top eight schools from the recently concluded John Tarbet meet, will take place to make the meet more enjoyable and interesting,” said Mercantile Athletic Federation Secretary Tornado Jayasundara.
24 new meet records were established last year, with Sri Lankan airlines emerging champions and MAS holdings coming in as runners up. Some of the companies competing this year are; Hayleys, Virtusa, HSBC, MAS, Janashakthi, Sri Lankan airlines and John Keells Holdings.
