Sooriyabandara leads Sri Lanka

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lankan Sevens outfit for the Colombo leg was selected with former Isipathana and Kandy SC player, Srinarth Sooriyabandara appointed to lead the outfit as the regular skipper, Sudharshana Muthuthanthri was left out due to an injury from which he is yet to recover 100%. Sooriyabandara led the national outfit in the first leg in Hong Kong bringing the team without the majority of the seniors to number 3 position which was credible.

Sri Lanka had a disaster in the second leg in South Korea ending on number 6 position which could be costly for the overall standing of the Asian Sevens Series. At present Sri Lanka is on equal terms on number 4 behind Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Sri Lankan glimmer of hope was increased with the return of experienced Gayan Weeraratne, Kavindu Perera and Dhunshka Ranjan. Both Gayan and Kavindu missed out on the Korean leg with the sustained injury in Hong Kong not healed. Ranjan missed out both Hong Kong and Korean leg and now fully recovered from the Asian Games tour injury is eager to have a go at the last leg in Colombo this weekend. 

Also returning to the squad is former Isipathana and CR & FC player Omalka Gunaratne after a lapse of one year. Buddhima Piyaratne will be missed in front of the home crowd as he could not find a place in the 12 leaving him as a standby for the third leg. Top two finishers at the Asian Sevens series 2018 will book their berth for the Hong Kong Sevens 2019 as the Asian 

Zone qualifiers. 

Men’s Squad for Colombo leg

Srinath Sooriyabandara (Captain), Danushka  Dyan (Vice Capt.), Danushka Ranjan, Gayan Weeraratne (all from Kandy SC), Sudam Sooriyarachchi,, Naveen Heenakankanmge (both from CH & FC), Kevin Dixon, Reza Rafaideen, Kavindu Perera, Omalka Gunaratne (CR & FC), Adeesha Weeratunge (Navy SC), Dinuk Amerasinghe (Havelock SC)

Head Coach – Peter Woods

Women’s squad for Colombo leg

Sanheevani De Silva (Capt.), Wasana Weerakody, Thauja Weerakody, Ayesha Kaluarachchi (Vice Capt.), Ayesha Perera, Theekshana Liyanage, Dulani Pallikondage, Dasuni de Silva, Dilini Kanchana, Jeewanthi Gunawardena, Nadeeka Munasinghe and Kumari Dilrukshi

Head Coach Sudath Sampth