Army – Ports Authority (mens) and Air Force – Hirdaramani (womens) reach finals of NSL volleyball

The crowd gathered at Wathupitiwala Indoor Sports Complex went mad as the semifinals of the Munchee National Super League Volleyball Championship 2025 took place with some fast-paced and action-packed encounters. This annual competition is considered an arena to showcase the true essence, skill and strength of Sri Lanka’s national sport. After a day full of brilliant spikes, blocks and digs, Sri Lanka Army – Sri Lanka Ports Authority (Men’s) and Hirdaramani SC – Sri Lanka Air Force (Women’s) managed to seal their spot in the high-stake finals.

The country’s top-rated volleyball league is conducted with the participation of 10 men’s teams and eight women’s teams, which are considered the top-notch talents in the national sport. The 10 elite teams who were in the fray at the Men’s Division ‘A’ were Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Ceylon Electricity Board, Combined University Sports Club and National Youth Services Council. Apart from them, the champion and runners-up teams of the Mercantile Super League 2025, Maliban Sports Club and Ocean Lanka Sports Club, were also featured.

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The eight teams that featured in the Women’s Division ‘A’ category were Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Omegaline Sports Club. Further, the champion and runners-up teams of the Mercantile Super League 2025, MAS Casualline Sports Club and Hirdaramani Sports Club, also featured in the championship.

During the men’s semifinals, Sri Lanka Ports Authority fought against the Ceylon Electricity Board outfit, while the two forces sides, Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Air Force, battled it out for the remaining spot in the finals.

Sri Lanka Army vs Sri Lanka Air Force (SLA 03 – 02 sets victory)

The Sri Lanka Army had a close tussle against the fancied Sri Lanka Air Force in the men’s first semi-final. The Guardians of the Skies, Sri Lanka Air Force, managed to edge out their strong opposition with 27 – 25 points during the starting set. Further, they made it an incredible start by clinching the second set with a 25 – 21 point margin.

But the soldiers scrutinised the game situation with their mistakes and mounted a remarkable comeback in the third set, stunning the Airmen with a thumping 25 – 16 win. Since then the SL Army displayed their hunger to achieve any target and edged out the opponents with a close 27 – 25 points victory. The fifth and final set was a thriller, and the game twisted among the sides on numerous occasions. But the soldiers made a complete comeback after registering a hard-fought 15-13 win in the final set to seal their spot in the final.

Sri Lanka Ports Authority vs Ceylon Electricity Board (03 – 02 sets)

In the second semifinal (men’s), the finalists of the previous edition clashed for supremacy. The defending champions, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, had a slugfest against the runners-up, Ceylon Electricity Board, and the game dragged on for five sets. The lads from the port secured the opening set victory after a dominating display. During the second set, spirited CEB lads gained their composure and launched an electrified attack to stun the defending champions.

The third set was anybody’s game until the final point, and SLPA secured the set with the narrowest point margin as 26 – 24. During the fourth set, CEB executed a superb attack coupled with solid defence and agility to win by 25 – 18 points. During the crucial final set, SLPA held their nerve to clinch a 15 – 12 victory, showcasing their superior skills and teamwork. With this stunning performance, SLPA cemented their legacy at the highest level of the national sport by reaching another final of this elite championship.

In the women’s semifinals, the young talents from Hirdaramani SC fought against the star-studded Sri Lanka Army line-up, while the two forces sides, Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Air Force, battled it out for the remaining spot in the finals.

Hirdaramani SC vs Sri Lanka Army

In the first semifinal (women’s), the young girls of Hirdaramani SC clashed against the well-experienced lasses of the Sri Lanka Army. During the first set, Army found their rhythm and edged out the Hirdaramani girls amid their top-quality resistance. But Hirdaramani SC came back with a fine display to equalise the game by bagging the second set victory. Since then the young lasses never gave room for Army SC, and they had to retreat against the fine attack and solid defence. After winning back-to-back sets, Hirdaramani SC completed a 03 – 01 victory over the nemesis, Army SC. With this stalwart effort displayed against the Army line-up, Hirdaramani etched history by reaching into their maiden Munchee NSL final.

Sri Lanka Air Force vs Sri Lanka Navy

In the second women’s semifinal, the defending champions, Sri Lanka Air Force, clashed against the Sri Lanka Navy outfit. Since the start, the Airwomen have stunned their opposition with their technically sound attack. Though the lady sailors tried their level best to counterattack, the unshaken Air Force defence stood at its highest level. At the end of the day, women from the SL Air Force booked their place in a final for another time after a three-straight-set victory.

The tournament was successfully organized by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation and the flagship brand of Sri Lankan biscuit, Munchee (Ceylon Biscuits Ltd), became the main sponsor of the extravagant championship by continuing their unwavering commitment to uplift the national sport of the country. The dates of the finals will be announced by the organizers in due course.