SLIIT secured the championship again at the Gamer.LK’s Inter-University Esports Championship, powered by SLT-MOBITEL and recognised as Sri Lanka’s top university level sporting event, ended on a triumphant note.
The Championship was held in-person at the Trace Expert City, where over 1,300 participants from over 75 universities took part. Commercial Bank was the Banking Partner alongside ViewSonic Gaming as the Official Gaming Monitor for the event.
SLIIT claimed victory with a remarkable haul of 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals, while UCL stood out in a close second, showcasing strong competition with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals. ICBT also made a notable impact, securing third place with 2 gold and 1 silver medal. Competitors from IIT, ESOFT, University of Moratuwa, Aquinas University College Colombo, NIBM, Java Institute for Advanced Technology, Edith Cowan University and the Sabaragamuwa University earned gold medals for their alma maters.
Esports in Sri Lanka, officially recognized as a sport by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2019, has witnessed a remarkable surge in popularity lately. This growing enthusiasm for Esports was underscored by its inclusion as a medal sport at the Asian Games 2022, highlighting its rising prominence.
“The passion and dedication displayed at this year’s tournament were truly inspiring. Witnessing SLIIT‘s triumph and the spirited participation from all the other universities has been a testament to the growing significance of Esports at the university-level rivaling traditional sports. We are incredibly excited about the potential that the next international Esports star representing Sri Lanka could emerge from the university-level. This year’s tournament has showcased immense talent and dedication, and it’s thrilling to think that among these skilled athletes, we might find individuals who will elevate Sri Lanka’s presence on the global Esports stage.”, said Raveen Wijayatilake, the Founder of Gamer.LK and CEO of InGame Esports.
Having built on their collaboration since 2022, this year’s Esports Championship was once again supported by SLT-MOBITEL, the leading National ICT Solutions Provider, reinforcing its position as the title sponsor. SLT-MOBITEL continues to be a pioneer in advancing digital entertainment and Esports in Sri Lanka, providing a range of specialized products designed to cater to the gaming community.
“We are immensely proud to have been the title partner for this year’s championship. It was exhilarating to witness the level of skill and competition displayed by all participants, especially the remarkable performance of SLIIT. We congratulate all the winners of this year’s championship. Our commitment to Esports in Sri Lanka remains strong, and we are excited to continue empowering gamers with SLT-MOBITEL’s cutting-edge fibre technology, offering the fastest broadband connectivity and specialised gaming and Esports packages. These initiatives are not just about enhancing gaming experiences but also about nurturing the local Esports community and opening up new possibilities for gamers.” stated Prabhath Dahanayake, Chief Marketing Officer of SLT-MOBITEL.
Commercial Bank was the Banking Partner for the event, coming forward to support the event through its Youth Savings account Vibe. Commercial Bank Vibe is a youth account with unique benefits, designed for the youth who live beyond boundaries.
ViewSonic Gaming was the event’s official Gaming Monitor partner. ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions and conducts business in over 100 countries worldwide. Having been active over the last three decades, most of today’s Esports athletes started their journeys on a ViewSonic Monitor. ViewSonic Gaming, carries this legacy forward with its commitment to providing high performance gaming display solutions for both casual gamers and hardcore Esports athletes.
The Esports Championship is set to return for its ninth edition in 2024.