Sports
Gateway students shine on the international stage

Gateway College proudly celebrates the achievement of nine outstanding students who have been selected to represent Sri Lanka in three major sporting disciplines – football, squash and athletics. This remarkable milestone highlights the school’s commitment to holistic education, where excellence is pursued both inside and outside the classroom.
Gateway encourages every student to discover and nurture their talents with the support of expert coaches, modern facilities and a school culture that values discipline, passion, and perseverance. These international selections are a reflection of that vision in action.
In football, Gateway remains the only international school competing in Division 1 of the All-Island Schools’ Football League. Three talented players — Aidan Francis Perera, Nadal Aaron Senapala, and Anuk Shahil Dassanayake — have been chosen to represent Sri Lanka at the SAFF U19 Football Championship in India.
In squash, Gateway continues its proud tradition of producing national-level players. Five students have qualified to compete at the Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in South Korea: Taveesha Goonasekera (Girls U13), Manuth Dassanayake and Dillon Perukanda (Boys U15), and Sithumli Mendis and Chanumi Thebuwanna (Girls U15).
On the track, Shanuka Costa flew the Sri Lankan flag at the Asian Youth Athletics Championship in Saudi Arabia. He finished fourth in the Medley Relay and reached the semi-finals in the 400m — a performance that speaks volumes about his potential and dedication.
These young athletes are not only ambassadors of Gateway but also of Sri Lanka. Their achievements stand as a testament to what is possible when talent meets opportunity. Gateway College congratulates them all and wishes them continued success as they take their next steps on the global stage.
Sports
Record stand puts Bangladesh in command in Galle Test

A record-breaking fourth-wicket partnership between skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and seasoned campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim put Bangladesh firmly in the box seat at stumps on day one of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.
The pair stitched together 247 runs – now the highest fourth-wicket stand for Bangladesh in Tests against Sri Lanka – steering the tourists to a commanding 292 for three at close after a wobbly start.
Having elected to bat first, Bangladesh were reeling at 45 for three when the duo came together. What followed was a gritty rescue act – a partnership built on sound temperament, clever shot selection and an unflinching resolve as they dug their team out of early trouble.
Mushfiqur, the most capped Test player in Bangladesh history with 97 appearances, silenced his critics with a timely ton. The veteran, under the pump after a lean patch spanning 13 innings without a half-century, rolled back the years with a knock of poise and purpose.
The 38-year-old has fond memories of Galle, having struck a monumental double hundred here in 2013 and once again turned tormentor-in-chief for the Sri Lankan bowlers. He did enjoy a slice of luck – a tough chance spilled by debutant Tharindu Ratnayake on 25 – but made it count, navigating a nervy passage in the 90s before scampering a quick single to notch up his 12th Test hundred.
Shanto, positive from the outset, kept the scoreboard ticking with deft footwork and a keen eye for the loose ball. He brought up his sixth Test century – and second against Sri Lanka – with a cheeky paddle sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya, marking his first ton since November 2023.
Earlier, Sri Lanka made early inroads with right-arm quick Asitha Fernando drawing first blood, removing opener Anamul Haque for a duck. Off-spinner Ratnayake, handed his Test cap on the back of a prolific domestic season, struck twice in quick succession – but once the Shanto-Mushfiqur duo got their eye in, it was one-way traffic.
Sri Lanka also handed a debut to opening batter Lahiru Udara, another domestic heavyweight, while the hosts paused before the start of play to felicitate retiring stalwart Angelo Mathews. The 38-year-old Mathews, playing his 119th and final Test, will hang up his boots with over 8,000 runs – behind only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in Sri Lanka’s all-time charts.
This Galle encounter marks the curtain-raiser of the new World Test Championship cycle – and by stumps on day one, Bangladesh have already made a strong statement of intent.
Rex Clementine in Galle
Sports
Akesha, Dinara get Sri Lanka off to winning start

Sri Lanka commenced the Billie Jean King Cup Asia Oceania Group 3 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Qatar as Akesha Silva and Dinara de Silva won their singles and doubles encounters at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts on Tuesday.
In the first singles match, Akesha Silva beat Hind Ai Mudahka (Qatar) 6-3, 3-0 (Hind Al Mudahka retired) before Dinara de Silva beat Mubaraka Ai Naimi (Qatar) 6-3, 6-0 in the second singles match.

Akesha Silva
Dinara and Akesha then joined to beat Mubaraka Ai Naimi and Dana Khalifa 6-0, 7-5 in the doubles match.
Sri Lanka are set to meet Nepal today.
Sports
Action from Junior National Athletics Championship

The four-day Junior National Athletics Championship concluded at Diyagama on Sunday. Here are some action pictures from the final day.

Chathushka Imesh (713), Pasindu Sandaruwan (697), and Shihan Nadeeshana (973) won the first, second and third places respectively in the Under 18 boys’ 100m final.
(Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
- Madushani Herath won the best athlete award in the Under 23 women’s category for her notable performance in the triple jump.
- Dilni Rajapaksha established two new meet records in the Under 16 age category. Here she is competing in the triple jump
- Mihinsa Hasarangi clinched gold in the Under 16 girls’ 100 metres

Rumesh Tharanga established a new meet
record in the Under 23 men’s javelin throw.

Mihisara Gunarathna (1232) won the Under 20 boys’ 1,500m.
-
Features5 days ago
They came, they won, they returned to Jaffna isles
-
News5 days ago
ITAK candidate elected B’caloa Mayor as NPP seeks alliance with Pillayan
-
Features3 days ago
As I remember, from 50 years ago: the 75-80 Katubedda Engineering Batch
-
Opinion6 days ago
Prof. Dissanayake honoured for oustanding contribution to Sinhala literature
-
News6 days ago
Enhanced security for Israelis in Sri Lanka
-
Foreign News6 days ago
Search resumes for schoolchildren swept away by South Africa floods
-
Business6 days ago
ASUS named Sri Lanka’s No.1 consumer notebook company by International Data Corporation
-
Opinion5 days ago
When life becomes more painful than death