Sports

Isipatana’s glory in the dying light

Published

9 months ago

2025/05/20

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya presents the President's Trophy to the winning captain of Isipatana College Thinethra Dodangoda.

In the thick dusk of a Colombo evening, as the shadows lengthened over the Royal Complex and the ghosts of schoolboy finals past stirred in the stands, it was the boys from Isipatana who stood tallest – bloodied, battered, but unbowed. With the clock gasping its final seconds, they summoned a last surge, a final act of audacity and defiance and in doing so, claimed the President’s Trophy once more. Twelve points to nine. No epics are written with such arithmetic, and yet, this was one for the ages.

It had all the markings of a classic. The crowd, frenzied and full-throated. The air, thick with monsoon promise. Two old foes, not just playing for silver but for the soul of their jersey. Trinity, resurgent and resolute. Isipatana, the champions, carrying the weight of history and the burden of expectation.

The contest began with the Green Machine humming. From the opening whistle, they played like boys who had read the script and decided to write a better ending. Trinity’s early wound – Sadeesha Weerawansa shown yellow for an off-the-ball transgression – gave Isipatana just the space they needed. A line-out on halfway. A thunderous burst from Lahiru Herath, all brawn and brave heart, slicing through defenders like a sickle through sugarcane. A high tackle. A quick tap. Thenuka de Costa, impish and ingenious, dummied and darted, then released Adithya Madushan, who flew in low and hard. A try fashioned not just from skill, but from sheer will. Avishka Hiran added the extras, and the green half of the crowd rose in rapture.

But Trinity do not lie down. Never have. Never will. They responded not with flash but with flint, clawing their way back with the boot of Shan Altaf, who knocked over two penalties with the calmness of a man shelling peas. The margin shrank. The tension grew.

Near halftime, both sides knocked at the door but were kept out by the sort of defense that speaks not of tactics but of pride. Trinity’s forwards, those grizzled troopers in white, battered at the gates but fumbled at the altar. Isipatana, too, found themselves thwarted, their backs denied by a wall of maroon resolve. The scoreboard, however, refused to budge. Seven to six at the break. Just enough for either team to believe.

The second half began with Isipatana in siege mode. For fifteen minutes, they camped in enemy territory, probing, pounding, pressuring. But rugby is a game that rewards composure as much as power and Trinity’s composure was sublime. They bent, yes, but they did not break. Kicks were missed, penalties squandered. Twice the Green Machine went for the posts, and twice the ball veered wide, as if the uprights themselves had grown weary of movement.

Then, a twist in the tale. Trinity’s Disal Thomas sent to the bin for persistent infringements. A numerical edge, but again, the boot failed Isipatana. Hiran missed. Sandeepa missed. And just when frustration began to wrap its cold fingers around green necks, calamity struck – the hooker Kaveen Jayasinghe yellow-carded for biting. A transgression as ugly as it was untimely.

Now Trinity smelt blood. With the advantage, they pressed, probed, and earned a penalty. Altaf, usually as reliable as an old compass, missed. But moments later, he redeemed himself with a drop goal of vintage beauty – arched back, sweet strike, straight through the posts. Trinity, nine. Isipatana, seven. The scent of an upset was thick in the air.

Time trickled away. Isipathana’s kicks continued to stray. Trinity, their eyes ablaze with belief, began to dream. And then – fate, that old dramatist, picked up its pen.

In the final moments, with the match slipping into history, Isipatana earned a penalty. Not for the posts – they’d had enough of that. This time, they rolled up their sleeves and reached for their roots. Pick and go. One phase. Another. Then wide. Avishka Hiran, his earlier misses forgotten, flicked a pass with poetic timing into the path of Yuvindu Kodithuwakku.

And oh, Yuvindu. How he ran.

Like a man born for the moment, he cut inside, bounced off one, spun past another, and crashed through a third. The line beckoned. He crossed it. The crowd erupted.

It was done.

Twelve points to nine. A scoreline scribbled with sweat and stitched with soul. For the 13th time, Isipatana were champions. For the second year running, they stood atop the mountain. And for those who watched, it was a reminder – rugby is not merely a game. It is a theatre of courage, a canvas of character. And on this night, the Green Machine painted in glory.

by Carlos Van de Berg

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Sports

Nestomalt run for Sri Lanka on Sunday

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/30

Thilina Walpola

Nestomalt Run for Sri Lanka Marathon 2026, organised by SingleTree Events, will be held in the city of Galle on 1 February 2026, from 6.00 a.m. onwards, bringing together runners, families, and communities for a morning fuelled by purpose and energy.

‎Designed to be inclusive and high-spirited, the Nestomalt Run for Sri Lanka Marathon 2026 features four running categories catering to all ages and fitness levels – from seasoned athletes to families running together. The categories include: 21.1 km – Elite Run, 10 km – Challengers Run, 5 km – Fun Run, 2 km – Family Run.

‎More than just a race, the Nestomalt Run for Sri Lanka Marathon carries a powerful cause at its heart, with all proceeds directed to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, reinforcing the collective spirit of giving back and thriving together as a nation.

‎True to its legacy, Nestomalt continues to champion active lifestyles, encouraging Sri Lankans to push boundaries and take on life with Power, Strength, and Energy. By supporting initiatives like the Nestomalt Run for Sri Lanka Marathon, the brand reaffirms its commitment to uplifting communities while inspiring healthier, more active living. With energy in every step and purpose in every run, Nestomalt is set to help power a memorable start to Run for Sri Lanka Marathon 2026.

‎Guided by its purpose of ‘unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come’, Nestlé Lanka has been enriching Sri Lankan lives for 120 years, nourishing generations with tasty, and nutritious products across the country.

Sports

Kumarasiri shines as Sri Sumangala earn first innings points against Ananda

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/30

Thilina Walpola

Left-arm spinner Mevindu Kumarasiri came up with another impressive bowling performance, taking seven wickets as Sri Sumangala College Panadura took first innings points against Ananda College in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket encounter at Ananda Mawatha on Thursday.

‎In the Tier A matche concluded on Thursday, Mahanama and Prince of Wales took first innings wins.

‎Results

‎Tier B

‎Sri Sumangala take first innings points at Ananda Mawatha

‎Scores

‎Sri Sumangala 272 all out in 71 overs (Pansilu Silva 35, Neksha Iddamalgoda 86, Bihanga Silva 30, Umantha Akash 21, Sadika Damyuru 24, Dinusha Dulanjana 23; Chamathka Irusha 2/35, Himira Kudagama 4/34) and 139 all out in 51.1 overs (Neksha Iddamalgoda 38; Himira Kudagama 6/54)

‎Ananda 208 all out in 66 overs (Danindu Sellapperuma 75, Himira Kudagama 26, Kithma Vidanapathirana 29, Lithma Perera 29, Rashan Dilaksha 21; Mevindu Kumarasiri 7/69, Bihanga Silva 2/32) and 17 for no loss in 4 overs

‎Tier A

‎Cambrians on first innings win against Maris Stella at Kadirana

‎Scores

‎Prince of Wales 310 all out in 76.3 overs (Suwas Fernando 84, Pramesh Fernando 88, Oshan de Silva 49; Hashmika Nethshan 6/24) and 167 for 5 in 37 overs (Oshan de Silva 40, Pramesh Fernando 75, Pasan Cooray 31; Savindu Sathsara 3/29)

‎Maris Stella

257 all out in 72.3 overs (Hansaka Perera 20, Kavith de Silva 91, Hashmika Nethshan 36; Nethul Anuhas 4/72, Oshan de Silva 3/20)

‎Mahanama post 342 for nine at Uyanwatta

‎‎Scores

‎St. Servatius’ 237 all out in 71.1 overs (Risinu Kithmuka 64, Thathsilu Bandara 92; Geeth Sandaruwan 2/41, Sithum Vihanga 4/57) and and 126 for 7 decl. in 41 overs (Tharul Weerarathne 57n.o., Binal Nethmaka 24; Geeth Sandaruwan 3/24, Kaushika Thilakarathne 2/09, Thenuja Rashmin 2/28)

‎Mahanama 116 for 1 overnight 342 for 9 decl. in 73 overs (Sineth Veerarathne 75, Kaushika Thilakarathne 35, Venura Kaveethra 27, Sanul Weerarathne 34, Sithuma Vihanga 24, Gimantha Dissanayake 71, Thaviru Perera 38; Samiru Gimhan 3/52, Praveen Madushanka 3/84, Lasindu Ramanayake 2/122) (RF)

Sports

Sri Lanka draft in KJP for England T20Is

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/30

Thilina Walpola

Kusal Janith Perera has returned to the T20 side.

Sanity has finally prevailed as Kusal Janith Perera has been drafted into Sri Lanka’s T20 squad for the series against England at Pallekele, a move that strongly suggests the prolific left-hander remains firmly in the World Cup frame. Eyebrows had been raised when selectors earlier signalled that KJP was not part of their World Cup plans, but with time running out and options thinning, they have been forced into a late U-turn. The first T20I gets underway today.

Pavan Rathnayake has also been rewarded with a call-up following his maiden international hundred in the final ODI against England, but Kamindu Mendis, groomed for months as a key cog in Sri Lanka’s World Cup plans, has been left out in the cold. With selections changing course at the eleventh hour, much of the long-term planning ahead of a home World Cup appears to have gone for a toss.

Despite the recent selection jitters, Sri Lanka have made notable strides in white-ball cricket over the last two years, underlined by series wins over heavyweight opponents such as India and Australia. With a bit of patience and perseverance, the team has shown signs of rediscovering the glory days when they were trendsetters of the game, from pinch-hitting at the top to wide yorkers at the death and mystery spinners running through line-ups.

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, rested during the ODI series, has been recalled for the T20Is and is expected to be a key weapon at the World Cup. Blessed with extra pace and the ability to hit the deck hard, Chameera brings both venom and accuracy, a rare combination in the shortest format. While Sri Lanka boast several pace options, Chameera remains the strike bowler capable of rattling batters and breaking partnerships.

Star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who was rested for the first two ODIs, returned for the series decider but struggled towards the back end of the contest. Captain Dasun Shanaka attributed his struggles to cramps, playing down concerns ahead of the T20 campaign.

While Colombo served up sweltering heat and humidity during the ODIs, conditions in the hill capital are expected to be far more forgiving. Pallekele is set for full houses across the three-match series, adding to the carnival atmosphere.

England, ranked third in the world, arrive as leading contenders for the World Cup semi-finals. They are unbeaten in their last seven bilateral series, winning five and drawing two and will see the Sri Lanka tour as a crucial tune-up.

Pallekele will host seven matches of the T20 World Cup, including the high-profile clash between Sri Lanka and Australia scheduled for February 16.

Rex Clementine ✍️
at Pallekele