Sports
Susantha leaves a legend
Whether it is the number of medals or the number of productive citizens it produced since its inception as s sports school, the achievements of A. Ratnayake Central Walala will remain unmatched among sports schools of the country. Behind every successful sports school stands a coach. For Ratnayake central it was Susantha Fernando—a man whose contribution to Sri Lankan athletics extends far beyond podium finishes and into the very foundations of sports education and athlete development.
For more than three decades, Fernando has been the driving force behind the track and field sucess at A. Rathnayake Central College, Walala, transforming a little kown school into one of the most dominant track and field institutions in Sri Lankan school sports history. Under his guidance, Walala achieved unprecedented sucess, winning titles at the All Island School Games, Sir John Tarbat Senior Championships and National Schools Relay Championships more than any other school in the country.
Walala’s success was not accidental. It was built on discipline, long-term planning, and a coaching philosophy that valued development over quick results. Fernando believed that talent, when nurtured patiently and systematically, could rival any advantage offered by superior facilities or urban exposure. Walala became living proof of that belief.
Renowned for his expertise in middle- and long-distance running, Susantha has been instrumental in shaping some of Sri Lanka’s finest athletes. His eye for potential and his understanding of physical and mental growth allowed young runners to mature into elite competitors on the international stage.
Among those who rose under his mentorship are Tharushi Karunaratne, Asian Games gold medalist and national 800m record holder; Dilshi Kumarasinghe, triple gold medalist at the South Asian Games and former national record holder; Manoj Pushpakumara, a multiple medalist at the Asian Junior Championships; and Indunil Herath, a national 800m record holder whose early development took place at Walala.
Collectively, athletes coached by Fernando have secured over 70 international medals, including achievements at the Asian Games, Youth Olympics, and South Asian Games. These results reflect not just individual brilliance, but a coaching system capable of producing excellence across generations.
Yet, those who know Susantha Fernando well insist his greatest strength lies beyond training schedules and race strategies. He viewed coaching as a form of education and character building. Discipline, humility, responsibility, and respect were central to his program. Winning mattered, but never at the expense of values.
This philosophy resonates strongly with long-standing discussions in Sri Lankan sports circles—often highlighted in The Island and The Sunday Island—about the need for structure, continuity, and ethics in sports development. Fernando’s career stands as a practical demonstration of those ideals.
His influence expanded when he was entrusted with duties as Assistant Director of Education (Sports and Physical Education) at the Wattegama Zonal Education Office. In this role, he has emerged as a strong advocate for reforming how physical education is treated within the school system.
Fernando proposed several progressive measures, including the introduction of mandatory termly fitness assessments for secondary students, compulsory participation in at least one sport, and the inclusion of physical fitness grades on GCE O/L and A/L result sheets. His vision was clear: physical education must be an integral part of national development, not a secondary concern.
Recognition for his work has come as Best Coach awards at Sports Awards ceremonies. More meaningful, however, was the tributes paid by former Walala athletes, his fellow officials and a distinguished gathering including former Director of Education Sunil Jayaweera at a felicitation ceremony organized by Tharanga Gunaratne, Director of Education at Wattegama Zone on the occation of his retirement from government service and at the launch of his autobiography ‘Dekumkalu Kalunika’ recently.
Both events reflected the gratitude not only for medals won, but for lives shaped.
Like many coaches working within limited systems, Fernando’s journey was marked by challenges—restricted resources, long hours, and personal sacrifice. Yet his quiet resilience ensured that standards were never compromised.
Susantha Fernando’s legacy is not confined to record books. It lives in the systems he built, the athletes he guided, and the values he instilled. As Sri Lanka continues to search for sustainable sporting success, his career offers a powerful lesson: ‘true excellence is built patiently, ethically, and with unwavering belief in people’.
In Susantha Fernando, Sri Lanka has not only produced champions—but a model of coaching worth preserving. He leaves a huge vacuum hard to fill.
Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order.
Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack that will still carry plenty of firepower despite resting several senior players.
The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 before attention switches to the seven match ODI tri-series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.
While Sri Lanka will miss Nissanka, his absence opens the door for highly rated Sineth Jayawardene, who has been earmarked as one for the future. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain now has an opportunity to show that he can make the considerable jump from domestic and age group cricket to the international stage. Sineth skippered Royal College, Colombo with distinction.
There will also be considerable interest in leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, another player Sri Lanka have invested in with an eye on the future. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of the equation, Viyaskanth has an opportunity to make a strong case for a regular berth rather than remain on the fringes.
Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the fact that Pakistan too have opted to look beyond some of their established names for the T20I leg of the tour.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan after leading them at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, taking over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been left out of the T20I squad. Salman remains part of Pakistan’s ODI plans.
Pakistan have also rested Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20Is, although both return for the ODI tri-series, where Shaheen will continue as captain.
The hosts have named uncapped all-rounders Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa in their 15-member T20I squad, while Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz have been rewarded for impressive performances at the Asian Games.
Hasan finished the tournament as Pakistan’s leading run scorer with 123 runs, including a blistering 96 off 51 balls against India in the final, although Pakistan had to settle for silver.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February, while Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed provide experience.
For Sri Lanka, while Nissanka’s runs will be sorely missed his absence means someone else has the chance to put his hand up. Sri Lanka will hope one or two of their young guns grab that opportunity with both hands.
The ODI tri-series will follow the T20Is, with the first three matches being played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league games and the final.
Pakistan have retained a more experienced core for the 50-over competition, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf among those included.
Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig has earned his maiden ODI call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is another notable inclusion.
Pakistan have also strengthened their backroom staff, bringing back former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as bowling consultant. Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2022-23 and replaces Ashley Noffke, who left after the Asian Games to take over as Netherlands head coach.
ATF Under-16 Colombo Week 1 Tennis
Sri Lanka’s junior players delivered a series of impressive performances on Wednesday, with the girls claiming all four semi-final places at the ATF Under-16 Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
Damsath Peiris
Methuli Naotunne led the charge with a notable quarter-final win over India’s Yashmitha Santhosh, recovering from a set loss to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Kiara Jayamanne also came from behind to beat India’s Ahnavi Shaw 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Risindi
Hewawasam
In an all-Sri Lankan quarter-final, Risindi Hewawasam overcame Desandi Peiris 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Disini Samaraweera defeated Sayli Basnayake 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
The Sri Lankan boys also impressed. Damsath Peiris beat Buvindu Jayawardhana 8-2, 7-6, and Yonal Dankumbura battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jayan Sebastian.
The visiting players, however, proved tough to beat. The Philippines’ Anthony Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-4, and India’s Gurshaan Chahal fought back to overcome Udeera Gunasinghe 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
(RF)
Mosvold Sixes 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions after a closely fought final against last year’s winners, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, who finished as runners-up. Transco Travels were second runners-up.
Twenty three destination management companies took part in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament, organised by Mosvold Sri Lanka.
The Mosvold Martinus Challenge Trophy 2026 was presented to the champions by Nilanka Martinus, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mosvold Boutique Hotels. Chief Guest Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, presented the runners-up award to Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka.
This year’s twenty three competing DMCs were Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka Tailormade, Olanka Travels, Antiquity Sri Lanka, Travel Trends Leisure, House of Travels & Tourism, NKAR Travels & Tours, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, Delux Holidays, Ceylon Roots, Spiceland Holidays, Infinity Vacations, Tropiculture, Serene Travels, Authenticities, Red Apple Travel & Holidays Lanka, DTH Travel Lanka, Hayleys Travels, We stay Ceylon, Transco Travels and Ceylon Tours.
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