Sports

Rugby show went on despite turmoil and leg pulling

Published

3 years ago

2023/11/15

Despite the turmoil in rugby SLR was able to field a team at the rugby sevens event of the Asian Games, hosted by China a few months ago

By A Special Sports Correspondent

The 2023-24 domestic rugby season is set to commence in December (2023) and the good news that supersedes all rugby news is that World Rugby (WR) has lifted the ban placed on Sri Lanka Rugby.

Sri Lanka’s rugby community or fraternity was forced to endure much tension and uncertainty during the current year due to the political interference in rugby. As a result of the ban the national team was not allowed to contest some of the major overseas tournaments. WR imposed a ban on SLR on May 17, 2023. Just a few days ago WR announced the reinstating of SLR’s membership with the world rugby controlling body; subject to three conditions. As reported in media outlets one of the conditions is that any official of SLR who has been suspended by WR or Asian Rugby cannot serve the Sri Lanka rugby controlling body. Officials serving the SLR have been allowed to function till March 2024.

Still with all these issues SLR was able to field a team at the rugby sevens event of the Asian Games, hosted by China a few months ago. Sri Lanka had to field a team under the ‘Olympic Council of Asia’ flag due to the ban it was serving. Sri Lanka faired disastrously at this rugby sevens event and finished tenth out of 13 teams that were in the fray. It was heartening to see a player like Tharinda Ratwatte of Kandy SC coming forward to take the responsibility as captain and lead the side from the front. There was little time for preparations. But living up to the sporty dictum that ‘participation is key whether a team wins or loses’ the team comprising the cream of the island’s players gave rugby fans at home something to cheer about by taking the fight up to their opponents at the tournament held in China.

The outside world is often surprised when they hear of the passion for the game played with the oval shaped ball in this little island. In Sri Lanka rugby is second only to cricket; in terms of popularity. What really shocks outsiders is that despite the rich traditions and long history in the game Sri Lanka rugby remains little recognized and lacking in achievements in the international scene. This is largely because the clubs own the players and not SLR and players grabbed by clubs for fat pay cheque contracts to perform in domestic competitions often make themselves unavailable for national duty because assignments such as overseas tournaments expose players to injury. We’ve also heard of players selected for overseas tournaments not living up to the standards shown at home; hence such players being ignored by the selection committee when it’s time to compile a team for international tournaments.

Other than for that issue the rugby scene at this island is live and kicking. This year saw Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) continue with their celebrations for their ‘Centenary Year’ which officially began in September, 2022. The highlight of that celebration was the hosting of a sevens tournament which featured eight major clubs. The organizers also had competitions for schools and ladies teams. Kandy SC marked their presence at the event by winning the Cup competition and also underscored that they have the players to win and much to offer when there is a seven-a-side competition in the domestic scene.

Reflecting on the previous domestic rugby season that concluded Kandy SC prevailed over the other teams during the league tournament. Fazil Marija coached the side which was led by Damith Dissanayake. They won their 23rd league title and entertained their fans with some scintillating performances in the 15-a-side version of the game.

Unfortunately they made themselves unavailable in the knockout tournament, which was won by CR & FC.

CR & FC did well last season to finish second in the league. The Red Shirts were coached last season by Dushanth Lewke and led by Kavindu de Costa. Though losing the league CR & FC won the Clifford Cup knockout tournament by beating Navy Sports Club 24-18 in the final.

The other two teams which fared well in the season that concluded were Police and Army; rugby analysts predicting a bright future for the ‘soldiers’ in the upcoming season given the way they performed last season. Havelocks Sports Club hung in there while CH & FC proved a disappointment; finishing last in the league tournament that featured eight teams.

Last season there were quite a few rugby activities held by SLR despite the turmoil in the domestic scene; the analysis of World Rugby underscoring that all that was due to political interference which amounted to breach of a Word Rugby by-law. But when it came to the ban on SLR another reason was also highlighted by World Rugby; such as concerns over governance by SLR.

Some of the activities which caught the attention of rugby fans were the Mercantile Sevens and Plantation Sevens. All in all SLR had the ‘rugby show’ going despite the leg pulling activities by individuals who walk on the corridors of power.

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Sports

Maris Stella Thimbirigaskatuwa, Lyceum Wattala clinch Western Province Schools Games athletics titles

Published

7 mins ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Maris Stella College Thimbirigaskatuwa won the overall boys' title of the athletics championship of Western Province Schools Games

Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa and Lyceum International School, Wattala emerged as the boys’ and girls’ overall champions respectively at the Western Province Schools Games athletics championship, which concluded at Diyagama on Friday.

‎Maris Stella produced a strong all-round performance to secure the boys’ title, with St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena finishing runners-up and Maris Stella College, Negombo taking third place.

‎The Thimbirigaskatuwa school’s success was highlighted by an outstanding performance from Deesara Herath, who was adjudged the boys’ Best Athlete after producing a 7.49m effort in the Under-20 long jump.

‎Maris Stella also produced another Best Athlete through Akash Peiris, who claimed the Under-14 boys’ award with a 12.91m performance in the shot put.

‎The school further underlined its strength in sprinting by establishing a new meet record in the Under-18 boys’ 4x100m relay. The Maris Stella quartet clocked 42.4 seconds to take the gold.

‎Their depth was also evident in the relay events, where Maris Stella finished as the overall runners-up.

‎In the girls’ competition, Lyceum International School, Wattala secured the overall championship, with the school’s success spearheaded by Risansa Nirupama. She was named the girls’ Best Athlete following her impressive 24.49-second performance in the Under-20 200m.

‎The performances of Herath and Nirupama were among the standout individual displays of the championship, while Maris Stella’s meet record in the Under-18 4x100m added further gloss to their successful campaign.

Sports

Royal pull off two wickets win to clinch Under 17 Division II title

Published

7 mins ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Royal College 'B' team bagged the Under 17 Division II cricket title at Mount Lavinia on Sunday

Royal College, Colombo held their nerve to beat Wadduwa Central College by two wickets in a low scoring thriller in the Under 17 Division II final at S. Thomas’ College Grounds, Mount Lavinia on Sunday.

‎Royal chased down a modest target of 104 with just two wicket in hand and two balls to spare.

‎Chasing the target Thumindu Somasiri led the way with a fluent 40 off 61 balls studded with eight fours, and he added 61 for the first wicket with Isuka Wickramasinghe (14) to give the innings a strong platform.

‎But once Somasiri fell in the 19th over, Royal lost their way, sliding from 61 for 1 to 102 for 8 as Imesh Chathuranga and Kaveesha Sayuranga shared seven wickets between them.

‎Imesh Chathuranga was the pick of the Wadduwa bowlers, claiming 4/26, while Kaveesha Sayuranga backed him up with 3/16 from ten economical overs. With the required target well within reach but wickets tumbling, Royal’s lower order was left to see the side home. Ahamad Rahimdeen (4*) and Senesh Rathnayaka (1*) kept their cool at the death, guiding Royal to 104/8 in 34.5 overs to seal victory by two wickets.

‎Batting first Wadduwa Central struggled to post 103 as Dinuja Wellahewage ran through the tail with a five wicket haul from six overs. Senesh Rathnayaka took three wicket while Senuth Perera picked up two for 24.

‎Dinith Newumal top-scored with a brisk 30 off 42 balls, including three boundaries, before falling to Senesh Rathnayaka. Chamesh Mokshan (11) and Kaveesha Sayuranga (10) were the only other batters to reach double figures, as the middle and lower order folded under pressure.

‎With the victory Royal have now bagged both the Division I and II cricket titles of the Under 17 age category.

Latest News

It’s spin vs spin as India and Sri Lanka battle for Asia Cup title

Published

22 hours ago

2026/09/13

Priyan

Harmanpreet Kaur and Chamari Athapaththu pose with the trophy [ACC]

If spin is to decide the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, both India and Sri Lanka have plenty to call upon. India’s spin attack, led by Deepti Sharma, has taken 26 wickets in the tournament, the most by a side. Sri Lanka are next with 25. That makes it seem like a spin vs spin and more spin kind of title contest.

On the plus side for India is that they have appeared well-rounded on the whole. Smriti Sharma and Shafali Verma have scored the bulk of the runs.

Sri Lanka, by contrast, have had to fight for momentum with the bat on the slow Dubai pitches. They were 33 for 4 in the semi final against Pakistan before Hrshitha Samarawickrema and Kavisha Dilhari revived and then completed the chase. Prior to that, they were 44 for 5 against Bangladesh and had to depend on Samarawickrama’s composed knock to seal their semi-final spot. They were also 45 for 5 against Indonesia in the league stage, before Nilakshi Silva lifted them.

That batting order has looked shaky. Chamari Athapaththu allying just 63 runs from four innings and Imesha Dulani 64 from four innings is a concern. And India’s bowling – quick bowler Nandani Sharma has been in good form too – might be tougher to handle than what Sri Lanka have faced so far.

India’s recent record against Sri Lanka also makes them favourites. They swept the five-match T20I series in December 2025 at home, and have won nine of their last ten T20Is against them.

But Sri Lanka’s one victory in that stretch came in the biggest game of all: the 2024 Asia Cup final in Dambulla, when they chased down 166 with eight wickets to spare to win the title.

That means Sri Lanka have both a challenge and a cause for optimism. They will need their batters to withstand Nandani and India’s spin trio – Deepti, N Shree Charani and Prema Rawat – and find a way to build partnerships, rather than leave too much for the middle and lower-middle order to do.

India have the balance and form while Sri Lanka, the defending champions, know better than most that a final can reset the equation. Not to forget, despite their struggles with the bat, Sri Lanka have an all-win record in the Asia Cup so far, the same as India.

Shafali Verma has made fast starts a recurring theme, scoring 168 runs in four matches at an impressive strike rate of 169.69. Two of her knocks have been 64s, and she has shown little sign of taking her foot off the accelerator. In the final, how she sets up the innings could be crucial.

Sri Lanka have found ways to recover from early collapses, with different players stepping up at different stages. But they need their talisman, Chamari Athapaththu, to come to the fore in the final. Athapaththu has made an impact with the ball – she is the tournament’s joint-highest wicket-taker – but her batting is yet to click. She has crossed 30 only once in four matches, in the opener against UAE. A noteworthy contribution with the bat, to go with her threat with the ball, could give Sri Lanka the spark they need against India.

India have fielded an unchanged XI in the tournament so far and, barring injuries, should do the same.

India Women (probable): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma

Sri Lanka have used 14 of their 17 players. In the semi-final against Pakistan, they left out Vishmi Gunaratne and Chethana Vimukthi for Hasini Perera and Mithali Ayodhya, which might be their ideal XI.

Sri Lanka Women (probable): Imesha Dulani, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Sanjana Kavindi, Harsthitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya