Sports

Hasitha, Ishara savour Layton Cup success

Published

1 year ago

2024/10/7

Hasitha Nuwan Jinadasa receiving the Best Boxer award from chief guest Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando.

Sri Lanka Police boxer Hasitha Nuwan Jinadasa, a four-time Stubbs Shield champion and a Dharmaraja College alumnus, earned the prestigious Layton Cup, awarded to the Best Boxer since 1942, after a hard-fought win in the minimum weight (48kg) category at the 82nd Layton Cup Boxing Championship, concluded on Saturday at Browns Beach, Negombo.

Known for his defensive prowess, Jinadasa edged out Daniel Tissaaratchy of Back2Fit in a closely contested bout, using counter punches to secure a split-decision victory at the event organised by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL).

Jinadasa also received a gift voucher worth Rs. 50,000 from Arpico and a return ticket to Singapore from SriLankan Airlines.

In the flyweight (51kg) category, Police’s Umayanga Mihiran delivered a masterclass performance, knocking out last year’s Layton Cup winner, Navy’s Gayan Indika Bandara. The 21-year-old Mihiran showcased his speed and precision, ultimately forcing a stoppage in the second round after Bandara was deemed unable to continue.

Among the women, Air Force’s Ishara Thushari Perera earned the title of Best Boxer with her tactical superiority and skill, which helped her easily outpoint Army’s Dilani Silva. Perera, who holds a national championship title, used her reach advantage effectively, showcasing her technical acumen. She was awarded a gift voucher worth Rs. 50,000 from Arpico for her stellar performance.

The finals also saw impressive displays from Yazmin Mohamed Usaith in the middleweight (75kg) category, who triumphed over Army’s K.G. Pathmasiri. Meanwhile, Army’s Sanduni Priyadarshani secured the flyweight (52kg) title, showcasing her dominance against Police’s Maleesha Widanagamage. Vidyarathana SC’s Keshani Hansika (57kg) and Air Force’s Sajeewani Cooray (60kg) also stood out with commanding performances, signalling a bright future for Sri Lankan boxing.

This year’s Layton Cup, set against the backdrop of the Negombo coast, has redefined the Sri Lankan boxing landscape, with athletes and fans alike hoping it signals the start of a new era for the sport in the country.

A large crowd of boxing enthusiasts, including dignitaries such as Dr. Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando (rtd), Director General of the Department of Sports Development, gathered to witness this unique event.

BASL President Anuruddha Shanaka Bandara praised the efforts of BASL Vice President Eric Perera, Senior Superintendent of Police, Negombo Division, for successfully implementing the concept of popularising boxing beyond Colombo. Bandara reiterated his vision of sending Sri Lankan boxers to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and this tournament marked a step in that direction as BASL hopes to form a national boxing pool for the first time in eight years.

The BASL selection committee, led by Abdulla Ibunu, were in attendance with BASL selecting a national boxing pool for the first time in eight years, athletes are also competing for a chance to represent Sri Lanka at the ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Jordan this November.

The finals, featuring 21 bouts across all men’s and women’s weight classes, were fiercely contested, with standout performances from both veteran and emerging athletes. The meet’s main sponsors, including 3R International, Melwa, and Pyramid Lanka Pvt Ltd, provided support, while Colombo Gem Bureau awarded cash prizes to male and female winners. The tournament’s best boxers were selected by international technical officials headed by the Technical Delegate of the event Capt. R.K. Indrasena (rtd).

K.K. Ishara Thushari Perera receiving her award

List of winners

MEN

48kg: T. Hasitha Nuwan Jinadasa (Police)

51kg: G.K.P. Umayanga Mihiran (Police)

54kg: G. Jayanath K. Ravindu Kumara (Vidyarathana SC)

57kg: P.A. Rukmal Prasanna (Army)

60kg: R.M.P.P.K. Rasnayaka (Army)

63.5kg: H.A. Hansa Dilsara Hettiarachchi (Navy Bismark)

67kg: P.S.P. Suranga Fernando (Army)

71kg: I.P.D. Chinthana Udayakumara (Air Force)

75kg: Yazmin Mohamed Usaith (St Sylvester’s Boxing Club)

80kg: J.M.I.P. Pathum Pushpakumara (Army Red)

86kg: Y.S. Prathap Sudamma (Army)

92kg: P.A. Rukman Sanjeewa Rupasingha (Army)

+92kg: U. Amitha Avishka (Army)

WOMEN

48kg: R.A. Nadeeka Pushpakumari (Vidyarathana SC)

50kg: K.K. Ishara Thushari Perera (Air Force)

52kg: H. Sanduni Priyadarshani (Army)

54kg: L.I. Nishadi Malshani (Air Force)

57kg: K.A. Keshani Hansika (Army)

60kg: M.P.S. Sajeewani Cooray (Air Force)

66kg: W.W.A.K. Thiwanka (Air Force)

75kg: K.A.G.N. Kaluarachchi (Air Force)

All News Advertisement

Business

Pavan Rathnayake earns plaudits of batting coach

Published

54 mins ago

2026/02/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

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

Sports

Annaya, Ganuka, Saha win first round matches

Published

55 mins ago

2026/02/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Annaya Norbert / Saha Kapilasena / Ganuka Fernando (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

ITF J30 Colombo Week 2 Tennis

‎Annaya Norbert in the girls’ category and Ganuka Fernando and Saha Kapilasena in the boys’ category registered first round victories in the ITF J30 Colombo Week 2 Tennis tournament in Colombo.

‎Results

Girls’ Singles 1St Round

‎Annaya Norbert beat Armani Naiavadi of India 6-3, 6-3

‎Boys’ Singles 1st Round

‎Ganuka Fernando beat Yush Kumar of India 7-6(4), 6-0

‎Saha Kapilasena beat Abbi Yadya Misa of India 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4)

Sports

Javindu anchors Gurukula to top 300 runs

Published

56 mins ago

2026/02/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Javindu Madusanka

Under 19 Cricket

Javindu Madusanka with a century and Janith Mihiranga wth a knock of 85 runs helped Gurukula post 312 for nine wickets against St. Sebastians’ on day one of the Under 19 Division I Tier A match at Moratuwa. While Javindu held the top order together with a 179-ball 106 runs (8x4s, 4x6s), Janith kept the late order batting together with his knock.

‎Malintha Silva with a five wicket haul was the pick of the bowlers for the home team. Koshendra Fernando took three wickets.

‎In their essay, the Sebs lost two wickets for 45 runs with Sahas Induwara accounting for both wickets.

‎In a similar scenario, open batsman Hirun Liyanarachchi (100 in 167 balls) with a century and former Holy Cross College all rounder Himaru Deshan with a half century guided Royal to 260 runs in their Tier A match against St. Anthony’s in Kandy. The home team were 22 for no loss at stumps.

‎In a Tier B match at Kurunegala, Dimath Abesinghe hammered 126 runs in 102 balls (20x4s, 2x6s) and put on a vital partnership for the sixth wicket with Pehesara Bandara to propel Maliyadeva to 372 runs against De Mazenod.

‎In a traditional encounter, St. Joseph’s posted 313 runs against St. Benedict’s at Darley Road. A century by Senuja Dinhas and a five wicket haul by Mewan Dissanayake were the highlights.

by Reemus Fernando

‎