Seylan Bank reclaim Mercantile Div ‘A’ TT title
Seylan Bank recently triumphed at the Mercantile Table Tennis Association (MTTA) Inter-Firm Knockout Table Tennis Championships, reclaiming the coveted ‘A’ Division title after a gap of seven years. Held at S. Thomas’ Gymnasium in Mt. Lavinia, this victory marks Seylan Bank’s first ‘A’ Division title win since 2018, reaffirming its place as a dominant force in the Mercantile table tennis arena.
Since 2005, the Seylan table tennis team has reached the finals in all but two of the last 20 years, demonstrating their sheer unmatched consistency and excellence in performance. Highlighting the team’s resilience and strategic play, Seylan Bank defeated MAS Holdings in the final, having previously won out against 99X Technologies in the semi-finals with a set score of 3-2, sealing their victory with a commanding 3-1 match result. Central to Seylan Bank’s journey to victory was the role played by Chalitha Ranjana. Chalitha’s contribution was instrumental in clinching the final. A four-time national champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Chalitha remained unbeaten throughout the knockout championship, securing a vital singles win and partnering with Sasika Wijesooriya in the
doubles to defeat MAS Holdings’ pairing 3-2.
(From left): United in their shared commitment to excellence and collaboration across the Seylan network, Chamith Dilshan, Direct Sales Unit; Sashika Wijesooriya, Bogawantalawa Branch; Varuna Koggalage, Deputy General Manager - Internal Audit/President - Seylan Sports Club; Ramesh Jayasekara, Director/CEO, Seylan Bank; Chalitha Ranjana, Seylan Card Centre; and Nalin Karunaratne, Chief Manager - Marketing/General Secretary - Seylan Sports Club
During the events of the final match with MAS Holdings, Chalitha Ranjana and Sasika Wijesooriya won the Doubles against Upasena and Weerasinghe with a score of 3-2. Chalitha Ranjana also scored a victory of 3-0, defeating Jayampathi Rathnayake. Chamith Dilshan lost to Jayampathi Rathnayake with a score of 0-3. Additionally, Sasika Wijesooriya secured a victory of 3-2 over Mihindu Upasena.
Among his recent victories at the 70th Open Mercantile Table Tennis Championship, Chalitha won the Open Men’s Singles title – marking his 10th Mercantile Men’s Championship victory, the Masters Singles and Open Men’s Doubles. Working in unison, Chalitha and his team exercised remarkable skill and talent during the tournament’s ‘A’ Division. In addition to Chalitha’s leadership, Sashika Wijesooriya, Uditha Kaluarachchi, and Chamith Dilshan distinguished themselves in pivotal supporting roles. Wijesooriya once again proved his enduring value to the team, delivering a match-winning performance in the finals.
Serving as the captain of the Seylan Bank team from 2003 to 2005, Uditha Kaluwarachchi’s efforts have allowed him to play crucial roles in every major achievement of the Seylan Bank team. Stepping into the roles of player and coordinator, Uditha has represented the team in the 25 years since its inception as its most experienced member. Chamith Dilshan, the team’s rising star and youngest member thus far, also impressed with his tenacity and potential, signalling a promising future in the sport.