Sparkling volleyball at finals of 2014 Brandix ‘Mercury’ championship
Thursday, 17 April 2014 00:00
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Defending champions Brandix Casualwear - Rideegama fought off a spirited challenge by Brandix Essentials - Ratmalana to retain the men’s championship by a close 25-22, 25-22, at the 2014 ‘Rasadiya Kusalanaya’ (Mercury Trophy) Volleyball tournament conducted annually by Sri Lanka’s single largest apparel exporter.
In sharp contrast, Brandix Intimate Apparel - Minuwangoda hardly broke a sweat to win the Women’s final beating Brandix Casualwear - Avissawella 25-8, 25-9, bringing to a close a two-month tournament in which a total of 360 players representing 32 men’s teams and 250 players from 23 women’s teams competed.
More than 5,000 Brandix associates, as employees are referred to within the Group, supported by ‘papare’ bands and cheerleaders packed the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium to the rafters to cheer on their colleagues on the court at the spectacular tournament finalé on Saturday 5 April.
In its fourth year, the Brandix Rasadiya Kusalanaya is by far the largest volleyball tournament conducted by a private sector entity in Sri Lanka. This annual tournament allows the Brandix associates to showcase their spirit of sportsmanship by participating in Sri Lanka’s national sport, and also provides an opportunity for employee interaction and recognition in this area.
Competing teams this year represented Brandix manufacturing units in locations such as Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Nivithigala, Pannala, and Nittambuwa in addition to locations closer to Colombo.
Conducted annually for all non-executive associates of the Brandix Group, the Brandix Rasadiya Kusalanaya tournament permits each business unit to field one men’s and one women’s team, with each team comprising of 10 players and two reserves. Preliminary rounds are conducted at cluster level after which each cluster sends one men’s and one women’s champion team to the semi-finals.
“The level of skill displayed in the preliminary rounds as well as at the semi-finals and finals continues to improve each year,” said Colonel Sujith Jayasekara, Group Human Resources Manager of Brandix. “Our intention is to build team spirit and a sense of belonging among our associates, and it is inspiring to see the enthusiasm that this event has generated.”
Brandix employs over 47,000 associates at 32 integrated manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka, its 1,000-acre industrial park operation in India and a large manufacturing facility in Bangladesh.
