Sports
Mihiran, Malshani adjudged best boxers at Nationals
Umayanga Mihiran of Vidyarathane Sports Club, Horana and L.I.N. Malshani of Air Force were adjudged the most scientific boxers at the National Boxing Championships concluded at Royal MAS Arena on Friday. Both Mihiran and Malshani won their maiden national titles.
Mihiran, 19, gave a flawless performance easily outpointing Army’s Raveendranath in a thrilling flyweight (under 51kg) final. He oozed class and confidence winning all his fights comprehensively with a superb exhibition of boxing skills. He received the coveted Sir William Manning Challenge Trophy for the Best boxer of the Nationals. Mihiran represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Junior and Asian Youth Championships held in UAE in 2019 and 2021 respectively. AMTS Adikhari of Navy was adjudged Best Loser (men) receiving the Donald Moonesinghe Challenge Trophy.
Malshani displayed superb technique and punching skills to outpoint Army’s MGMT Dasunika in the Flyweight (under 52kg) contest. Malshani won the bronze medal at the Asian under 22 Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan.
NS Wellappili of Police was declared the Best Loser (women) after giving a plucky display against three-time National champion Nadeesha Pushpakumari of Vidyarathena in the minimum weight (under 48kg) contest.
Army received the Sgt Selladorai Challenge Cup for the most successful men’s team at Nationals winning nine golds, a silver and bronze. Rukmal Prasanna was their most impressive winner, outpointing Navy’s MGPKP Dayarathna in the featherweight (under 57kg) contest. He received the Eddie Gray Cup for the most outstanding men’s boxer of the year.
Air Force received the Nieva Embuldeniya Challenge trophy for the champion women’s team winning three golds, two silver and a bronze medal. The Dian Gomes Challenge Cup for the most outstanding woman boxer went to Air Force’s M.P.S.S. Cooray.
The final day of the 95th Nationals Boxing Championship was graced by Dian Gomes the Board Director of the International Boxing Association (IBA) and Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) saw the completion of 24 men and women bouts with the participation of 117 men and 40 women boxers from 20 clubs.
Final results
Men’s
Minimum weight (46-48kg):
HMLP Jayawardana (SLA) beat KASK Abeygunawardana (SLAR) WO
Fly weight (48-51kg):
GPU Mihiran (VUC) beat TKGK Raveendranath (SLAA) WP 5:0
Bantam weight (51-54kg):
RMP Dharmasena (SLA) beat HI Chamara (SLAR) WO
Featherweight (54-57kg): PAR Prasanna (SLA) beat MGPKP Dayarathna (SLN) WP 4:1
Light weight (57-60kg):
RPMPKK Rasnayaka (SLA) beat WRT Weerakkodi (SLAR) WO
Light Welter weight (63.5kg):
HMKC Ekanayaka (SLP) beat LSR Nayananda (SLA) WP 5:0
Welterweight (63-67kg):
TSPS Fernando (SLA) beat IPKL Ilangarathna (SLP) WP 4:1
Light Middleweight (67-71kg):
PMLL Chandra Bandara (SLA) beat DMG Dilshan (St John’s College, Nugegoda BC) WP 4:1
Middleweight (71-75kg):
WMGKGI Ariyarathna (SLN) beat WGNC Wijeynaga (SLAF) WP 5:0
Light Heavyweight (75-80kg):
HWGP Rathnasiri (SLP) beat WAMP Wariyapperuma (SLA) 5:0
Cruiserweight (80-86kg):
YSP Sudamma (SLA) beat HMPM Silva (SLAF) KO R1
Heavyweight (86-92kg):
PARS Rupasinghe (SLA) beat KMCK Karunanayake (SLN) WP 4:1
Super Heavyweight (92+kg):
UAW Avishka (SLA) beat ADRM Abeysinghe (SLAB) WO
Women’s
Minimum weight (45-48kg):
RAN Pushpakumari (VUCW) beat NS Wellappili (SLPW) WP 5:0
Light Flyweight (48-50kg):
HS Priyadarshani (SLA) beat PM Widanagamage (SLPW) WP 5:0
Flyweight (50-52kg):
LIN Malshani (SLAFW) beat MGMT Dasunika (SLAW) WP 5:0
Bantam weight (52-54kg):
KKIT Perera (SLAFW) beat GMMA Gunathilaka (SLPW) WP 5:0
Feather weight (54-57kg):
KAK Hansika (VUCW) beat GWGC Tharuka (SLPW) RSC R1
Lightweight (57-60kg):
MPSS Cooray (SLAFW) beat ENL Udayakumara (SLPW) RSC R1
Light Welterweight (60-63kg):
BRD Mendis (SLAW) beat WWAK Thiwanka (SLAFW) WP3:2
Light Middleweight (66-70kg):
GDL Sadekelum (SLPW) beat BLS Sadareka (Narandeniya BC)
Middle weight (70-75kg):
BS Heshani (VUCW) beat RPD Rajapaksa (SLPW) RSC R3
Light Heavyweight (75-81kg):
WS Sewwandi (SLPW) beat KAGN Kaluarachchi (SLAFW) WP3:2
Heavyweight (81+kg):
MMH Kawmini (Narandeniya BC) beat PDI Sewwandi (SLPW) WP 5:0
There will be no auction for this year’s Lanka Premier League, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced, with a player draft set to take place instead on March 22.
The sixth edition of the LPL had originally been slated for early December 2025, but was postponed on account of ensuring the readiness of venues for the 2026 World Cup set to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India. The league has since been scheduled to take place from July 8 to August 8, which is the SLC’s preferred window.
This will be the first time since 2022 that a draft system is being utilised in the LPL, with both of the past two seasons hosting player auctions.
“During the draft, franchises will select both Sri Lankan and overseas players for the upcoming season of Sri Lanka’s premier domestic T20 tournament,” an SLC media release confirmed.
The inclusion of a sixth team had also been mooted prior to the competition’s postponement, however there have been no developments on that front since. Each of the first five editions of the LPL saw five teams representing Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna compete.
Earlier this year, Jaffna Kings – formerly the longest-standing franchise, having joined in the tournament’s second edition – and Colombo Strikers were terminated by SLC for “failure to uphold contractual obligations.” As a result, the LPL currently has no franchise owners with a history stretching back beyond 2024. New owners for both the Jaffna and Colombo teams are yet to be announced.
[Cricinfo]
Sri Lanka’s leg-spin spearhead Wanindu Hasaranga has warned rivals not to write off the hosts ahead of the World Cup, after his four-wicket burst in the final T20I against Pakistan helped Sri Lanka square the three-match series on Sunday.
Hasaranga’s spell turned the game on its head and restored belief in a side that has blown hot and cold. Speaking after being named Player of the Match and Player of the Series, the leg-spinner said Sri Lanka, buoyed by home conditions, remain very much in the hunt for a semi-final berth.
Under head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka have made steady strides over the past 18 months. There have been a few distractions recently like changes in selectors and captaincy among them, but the dressing room, Hasaranga insisted, is quietly confident.
“We know the conditions and we’ve grown up playing in these conditions,” Hasaranga said. “If we use them well, we can have a major impact. Players need to identify their roles. Once that happens, we can put on a good show.”
Sunday’s decider was reduced to 12 overs a side after rain delayed the start by more than two hours, but Hasaranga felt the shortened contest still offered valuable lessons.
“Today we looked good,” he said. “We’ve been lacking a bit of consistency in recent years. In a World Cup, you have to minimise mistakes and keep moving forward.”
Bowling with a wet ball tested the spinners’ skills and patience, but Hasaranga viewed it as useful match practice rather than an inconvenience.
“It was challenging with a wet ball,” he explained. “But it’s good these things happen before a World Cup. It prepares you for all kinds of situations. I even spoke to our batters about what deliveries they’d prefer to face, and that input helped when we went out to defend.”
Sri Lanka now enjoy a week’s breather before hosting England with Hasaranga keen to see his side peak at the right time.
“When this series started, we had six games leading into the World Cup,” he said. “Rain in Dambulla meant things didn’t always go to plan. As a team, we wanted winning momentum. There are only a couple of games left now and we need to be firing on all cylinders when the World Cup begins.”
Sri Lanka had stumbled in the opener, losing by six wickets after being bowled out inside 20 overs, while the second match was washed out without a toss. A 14-run win in the final game, however, ensured honours ended even.
Rex Clementine
in Dambulla
It will be a four-way battle for the top post of Sri Lanka Athletics as fresh nominations for the election of office bearers closed at the Sports Ministry on Monday. Former president Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Sugath Kumara and Prasanna Indika are the nominees for the post of president and they are subjected to objections.
This is the second time the Ministry of Sports called for nominations after different stakeholders successfully challanged the earlier niminations alleging that there were errors in the process.
Informed sources said that this time too the Ministry of Sports has left enough room for allegations as it announced the names of the nominees without waiting for the nominations sent by post.
”There was a fundamental error as they did not wait for nominations sent by post. They informed the stake holders by post. Some member federations had received the letters only on last Thursday. They were in a mighty hurry to announce the names of the nominees soon after the nominations closed,” a source close to athletics told The Island.
Following are the nominees for various posts of Sri Lanka Athletics.
President: Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Prasanna Indika, Sugath Kumara
Vice President: Prasanna Indika, Lal Chandrakumara, Lt. Col. G.N. Jayathilaka, Irangani Rupasinghe, Jagath Silva, G.J. Siyamudali, Prasanna Aluvihare
Secretary: Dr. Dhammika Senanayake, Sameera Perera, Madawa Herath
Asst. Secretary: Sameera Perera, Aloy Wickramasinghe (RF)
Lanka Premier League draft set to take place on March 22
Trump to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at the White House
Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
Expressions of Interest called to develop selected locations within the Pelawatte Sugar Factory premises
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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