Sri Lanka batting coach Vikram Rathour has hailed middle-order batter Pavan Rathnayake as one of the finest players of spin in the modern game, saying the youngster’s nimble footwork and velvet touch were a “breath of fresh air” for a side long troubled by the turning ball.

Drafted in for the second T20I after Sri Lanka’s familiar struggles against spin, Rathnayake looked anything but overawed by England’s seasoned tweakers, skipping down the track with sure feet and working the ball into gaps with soft hands.

“He is one of the better players when it comes to using the feet,” Rathour told reporters. “I haven’t seen too many in this generation do it as well as he does. That is really impressive and a good sign for Sri Lankan cricket.”

Sri Lanka went down in a last-over nail-biter but there were silver linings despite the hosts being a bowler short. Eshan Malinga was forced out after dislocating his left shoulder and has been ruled out for at least four weeks, a blow that ends his World Cup hopes. Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan and Nuwan Thushara have been placed on standby.

Power hitting remains Sri Lanka’s Achilles’ heel and Rathour, who carries an impressive CV from India’s T20 World Cup triumph two years ago, pointed to a few grey areas in the batting blueprint.

“There are two components to T20 batting,” he said. “One is power hitting, but the surfaces here, especially in Colombo, are not that conducive to clearing the ropes. The wickets are slow and the ball doesn’t come on to the bat. The other component, just as important, is range as a batting unit.”

Even when Sri Lanka lifted the T20 World Cup in 2014 they were not blessed with a dressing room full of big hitters, relying instead on sharp running, clever placement and a mastery of spin. Rathour preached a similar mantra.

“If you are not a team that hits a lot of sixes, you can still find plenty of fours by utilising the whole ground,” he said. “Most of them sweep well, reverse sweep and use their feet. That is encouraging. If you don’t have the brute power, you can make up for it by using angles and scoring square of the wicket.

“These wickets perhaps suit that style more. They are not the easiest surfaces to hit sixes, and I’m okay with that. If they can use their feet and the angles well, that is as good.”

Rex Clementine
at Pallekele

Sri Lanka’s dairy and livestock sector is central to food security, rural livelihoods, and national nutrition, yet continues to face challenges related to productivity, climate vulnerability, market access, and financing.

In this context, Connect to Care and DevPro have entered into a formal partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support Sri Lanka’s journey towards dairy self-sufficiency.

A core objective of DevPro is to strengthen inclusive and resilient dairy value chains by empowering smallholder farmers through technical assistance, capacity building, climate-resilient practices, and market-oriented approaches, building on its extensive field presence across Sri Lanka.

A core objective of Connect to Care is to support the achievement of dairy self-sufficiency by 2033, as outlined in the national development manifesto, with an interim target of 75% self-sufficiency by 2029.

By strengthening local dairy production and value chains, this effort will also help reduce Sri Lanka’s dependence on imported dairy products, while improving farmer incomes and domestic supply resilience.

The partnership will focus on climate-smart dairy development, multi-stakeholder coordination, and exploring blended finance and PPP models—providing a structured platform for development partners and the private sector to engage in scalable action.

The Event Management Association (EMA) of Sri Lanka marked a historic milestone during its 7th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on January 27, 2026, at the Burgher Recreation Club (BRC). The evening was defined by a celebration of past achievements and a transformative announcement for the future of the events landscape in Sri Lanka.

A Legacy of Impactful Initiatives

Outgoing President Nisal Caldera addressed the assembly, reflecting on a highly successful tenure characterized by community engagement and professional development. Highlighting the association’s recent triumphs, Caldera revisited several key projects:

The Hadagasma Concert: A landmark event.

EMA Staff Workshop: Focused on upskilling the backbone of the industry.

The Help Apeksha Fundraiser: Demonstrating the industry’s commitment to social responsibility.

EEMA India Partnership: Strengthening cross-border networking and knowledge exchange with the Event and Entertainment Management Association of India.

A Historic Milestone: Official Industry Status

The highlight of the evening was the inaugural address by the newly elected President, Saliya Weerasekera. Following years of persistent advocacy, Weerasekera proudly announced that the Event Management sector has finally attained formal recognition as an industry.

This achievement follows the recent securing of Cabinet approval, a feat made possible through the dedicated support of the Minister of Industries, Sunil Hadunneththi, alongside the tireless efforts of the Ministry staff and the EMA.

“Formal recognition as an industry opens doors to structured growth, better regulation, and the economic respect our sector deserves” said Weerasekera.

Leading the Future: The New Executive Committee

The AGM also served as the platform to introduce the leadership team tasked with navigating this new era. The newly appointed Executive Committee members for the 2026/2027 term include a diverse group of veterans and innovators dedicated to the EMA’s mission.