Ashoka heads National Rugby selection committee

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Joseph Vaz, Ananda College, Police SC, Kandy SC and national second rower Ashoka Jayasena, will head the National Rugby selection committee for 2021/2022. 

The appointment was approved by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Namal Rajapaksa. 

Ashoka, the towering second rower who stands well over six feet, played for Ananda College from 1984 to 1988 under head coach G.B. Gunadasa. In his last year he toured with the national Sevens team to the UK with players such as Rohan Ranaraja, Thakshila Hettiarachchi, Lasitha Gunaratne, Hilmy Saheed and Binud Dandeniya, to name a few. That outfit was coached by the late Alex Lazarus. 

Ashoka then joined Police SC in 1989 and played for them until 1996, helping them win many league titles and Clifford Cup knockout events. Ashoka joined Kandy SC in 1996 and played for them until 2005. He represented the national XVs outfit from 1989 to 2002. One Ashoka’s major achievements was that he was selected for the Asian Barbarians against a strong Hong Kong outfit.

Ashoka will have Rohan Abeykoon (Trinity and CH & FC), Leslie de Silva (Isipathana and Police SC), Kapila Knowton (Mahanama and Army SC) and Hemantha Yatawara (Dharmaraja, Police SC, and Kandy SC), in his committee.

Speaking to Daily FT Sri Lanka Rugby President Rizly Ilyas said: “The selection committee headed by Ashoka and his team have done a yeoman service for the country. They richly deserve their break. I wish them all the very best in their job.”