Sports Ministry puts hurried moves on hold

A bold decision from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs will see no Sports Association or Federation being able to change their respective constitutions until the end of their Annual General Meetings.

Sri Lanka to play FIFA World Cup qualifiers without spectators

The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) is gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup 2022 Doha Asian qualifying tournament, with the first match against South Korea scheduled on October 13 within closed doors.

SLC set to replace women’s head coach

Appointed to the role in 2018, his two-year contract ends in August, and it now appears that SLC will look elsewhere despite the imminent qualification tournament for next year’s Women’s Cricket World Cup.

SL boxers caught in crossfire between officials – Keshani Hansika

National boxers are sometimes caught in the middle of conflicts between the governing body and clubs who are pulling in different directions which may adversely affect the future development of the sport, according to a leading boxer in the country Keshani Hansika.

SL aiming for Gold in netball at Asian Indoor Games

The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) and the Ministry of Sports has decided to participate in netball at the 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

Three SL players under investigation by ICC Anti-Corruption Unit

The Minister of Sports Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday revealed that three National cricketers are currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

National football pool training to begin on June 22

The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has decided to commence national pool training on June 22.

Forces can be re-involved in running stadiums – Nishantha Ranatunga

The current Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) administration could stand to make better use of their properties, its former Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said, especially regarding the management of international stadiums.

Sri Lanka gearing to take part in Asian Beach Games

Sri Lanka is planning to compete in eight disciplines at the sixth edition of the Asian Beach Games scheduled to be held in Sanya, China from November 28 to December 5, according to the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) and the Ministry of Sports.

Ministry mulls electronic voting at AGM of national sports bodies

The Ministry of Sports is considering the prospect of conducting election of office-bearers for National Sports Associations (NSA) by electronic voting.

Olympian Dharmawardena targets Asian Games medal in judo

Judoka Chamara Nuwan Dharmawardena who won a historic gold in judo at the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) in Kathmandu and represented Sri Lanka at the 2016 Rio Olympics is targeting a medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Sri Lanka planning to send 10-member squad for World Table Tennis Championship

The World Table Tennis Championship has been postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic but the Table Tennis Association of Sri Lanka (TTASL) is planning to send a 10-member team for the event whenever it is eventually held.

The first rugby visitors: When the All-Blacks played in Colombo in 1907

The first rugby team from parts beyond the seas to play in Sri Lanka, as per the recorded history of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (now Sri Lanka Rugby), was the “All Blacks” Northern Union team. They arrived in Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was then called) in September 1907.

Sri Lanka netball needs to target titles outside Asia – Former skipper Somitha de Alwis

Sri Lanka have emerged Asian netball champions on five occasions but they should be looking at winning titles beyond the region, said former national captain Somitha de Alwis.

SL need to build on SAG success: Sugath Thilakaratne

While expressing his pride at still holding the national 400m record, former star athlete Sugath Thilakaratne said that athletes could not rest purely on their success at last year’s South Asian Games in Nepal.

Weightlifting and wushu to resume national pool training on June 1

Only two national sports associations have responded positively to a circular issued by the Ministry of Sports to resume training activities for the national pool by June 1, according to sources.

A rugby legend’s love with Sri Lanka

The death of rugby legend and coach George Dreaden Simpkin a few days ago left little Sri Lanka mourning the loss of this man who was so dear to us.

Weak and bias selectors reason for decline of football: Kasun Jayasuriya

The standard of football in Sri Lanka is on the decline not because players lack skill but because the selection committee members are weak and biased, according to veteran football star Kasun Jayasuriya.

George Simpkin will be missed badly

Former Fiji, China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Youth and Germany Head Coach, George Simpkin passed away in New Zealand two days ago.

Coaching ‘mafia’ producing ‘broiler’ athletes, warn Sunil and Badra

Coaches who have not even won a medal at national level or followed any international coaching courses have created a coaching mafia which, if unchecked by the national sports associations and the Sports Ministry, would produce a dark era for the future of sports in the country, warned veteran coaching couple Sunil Gunawardena and K.G. Badra Gunawardena.

Army ‘bullet’ Himasha Eshan predicts new dawn for SL athletics

The islandwide curfew caused by the coronavirus pandemic has had a negative effect on the skill level of national athletes, according to the fastest man in Sri Lanka Himasha Eshan.

Sri Lanka’s junior stars have missed out on ten gold medals - AASL President

Sri Lanka’s national level junior athletes have been deprived of winning at least 10 gold medals since the two international competitions they were scheduled to take part in were postponed indefinitely, according to the President of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Palitha Fernando.

Coronavirus spikes national team’s preparations for Asian tournaments

The Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVB) is making plans to resume administration of the sport once the curfew as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic is lifted.

No place in the sun for ‘golden girl’ Ramani Mangalika

Ramani Mangalika is one of the finest athletes Sri Lanka has ever produced but her dazzling achievements seem like a mere postscript in a distant past for many.

The first All Ceylonese rugby match and ’’The Ceylon Sportsman’’ publication

There were about five clubs regularly playing the game; there were inter-district matches, and also inter-club matches. The showpiece of the season was the Colombo-Up Country match for the Capper Cup played during the August Week celebrations. By then the first rugby club in the country, The Colombo Football Club, had already combined with the Colombo Hockey Club to form the Colombo Hockey and Football Club (CH & FC).

Ripple effect of pandemic to hit Asian Games, SAG and SEA Games

Major multi-discipline events in Asia such as South Asian Games (SAG), South East Asian Games (SEA) and the 2022 Asian Games are unlikely to be held in the near future as scheduled because of the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka Suresh Subramanium.

FFSL gearing to continue operations using technology - Jaswar Umar

General Secretary of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) Jaswar Umar yesterday said that they are gearing up to continue with the post Covid-19 operations using technologies.

Thilaka Jinadasa set to quit as National Netball Coach

She will officially convey her decision to the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) once the prevailing situation in the country eases, Jinadasa disclosed on Wednesday.

When NCC beat CH & FC in 1920

This account is of the rugby match between the first rugby club in Ceylon, the CH & FC, and the Nondescripts Cricket Club (better known for its cricketing history) in 1920 and its historical significance.

Sri Lankan structure more suited for Sevens Rugby - Marija

Former Kingswood College and Kandy Sports Club player Fazil Marija said that Sri Lanka’s rugby structure is more suited for the Sevens game.