This year there are 14 teams divided into two groups. In Group A, Bata Shoe Company Ltd., Singer Sri Lanka B, Trans Asia Hotel, Ceylinco Group, Hatton National Bank C, Tristar Apparel A and new comers Scanwell will battle it out for supremacy.
In Group B, Hotel Oberoi A, Hotel Hilton, Trico Maritime, Pelwatte Sugar, Profreight, Airport Aviation and Sampath Bank will vie for honours.
The venues for these matches will be M.C.A., Wesley College Grounds, Malay and Shalika grounds.
Last year ten teams participated and John Keells Group emerged champions with Trico Maritime as the runners-up. This year too there will be awards and trophies for the best bowler, best batsman and the man of the final. The tournament commenced on November 7 and the finals will be on January 16 at the MCA. The above details were revealed at the press conference held at the MCA club by the office bearers of the MCA, namely President Gehan Siribaddana (of Prestige Automobiles), Secretary Tissa Madigasekera and Treasurer Srilal Rajapaksa. The Managing Director of Prestige Automobiles H. A. Reuter handed over the sponsorship cheque to Mr. Gehan Siribaddana.
This year for the first time the number of groups have been cut down to six from the earlier eight. This year the Mercantile matches will be launched with the C Division whereas earlier it was started with the D Division. So, therefore, this year the MCA will conduct tournaments in division A, B, C, D, E and F. Thereby there will be more teams in each division and therefore greater competition.