Pradeep heads CPRFU

Former Trinity, Kandy Sports Club, national rugby skipper, national selector and level two qualified coach Pradeep Basnayake was elected as the President of the Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) at their Annual General meeting (AGM) which took place at the Kandy Club.

Kandy SC, Dimbulla A and CC, Dickoya Maskeliya CC, and Peradeniya University are the founder clubs with the CPRFU originated in 1992. Each of the four clubs had one vote each at the AGM.

Pradeep, was a double national player by representing Sri Lanka both in basketball and rugby football. He played for Trinity in 1994/1995 winning his rugby ‘Lion and Colours’ for basketball. Later he represented the Kandy SC over a decade ending by leading them. 

He went on to play for the national XV-a-side outfit being an automatic choice as a second rower standing well over six feet. He led the national rugby outfit in 2003 and 2004. Pradeep was also a national selector and level two qualified conducted by World Rugby.

Basnayake speaking to Daily FT said: “I am thankful for everyone who supported me in taking over Central Province Rugby. We will need to work as a team with young and old need to support in developing the game of rugby in the central region. Positions are not important but rugby needs to climb up the ladder. We will put our plan of development at the next meeting and take it forward from there.”

The office bearers for the year 2020/2021 are as follows,

• Trustees – Mohan Samarakoon and Viper Gunaratne (Snr.)
• Immediate Past President – Tuan Dole
• President – Pradeep Basnayake
• Vice President – Manjula Samarakoon
• Secretary – Kavinda Jayasena
• Treasurer – Rifaz Razeek
• Committee Members – Sarath Runaweera, Suranga Dela, Thusitha de Silva, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Milroy Mendis, Maj Kanishka Ambungala, Charu de Silva, Y.M.S. Ratnayake, and Anil Jayasinghe  

(SJ)