Sri Lanka forms 18-member netball pool

By Susil Premalala

The netball National Selection Committee has reduced the Sri Lanka pool to 18 players as preparations continue for the 14th Asian Senior Netball Championship 2026.

The championship is scheduled to be held in Hong Kong from August 7 to 16 and will also serve as the Asian qualifying event for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney. The top two teams will secure qualification.

Earlier, the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) had initiated training with a 30-member squad following a short-term talent search and selection process. However, after a one-day selection trial held on March 29 at the Indoor Stadium in Bandaragama, the squad was trimmed to 18 players.

The Selection Committee has also included several experienced players who were not part of the initial pool into the revised squad.

Head coach Somitha Alwis said that training for the selected squad will commence in early April at Bandaragama.

Although interviews were recently conducted to appoint a voluntary assistant coach, the NFSL has yet to announce the selected candidate, reportedly due to the intervention of the Ministry of Sports.

There are also concerns that the ongoing geopolitical tensions in parts of the world could potentially impact international sporting events in Asia, including the upcoming Asian Netball Championship.

Sri Lanka netball Pool: Thissala Algama, Bashi Udagedara, Rashmi Perera, Gayani Dissanayake, Dulangi Wannithilaka, Gayanjali Amarawansa, Thilini Wattegedera, Chalani Nisha, Rukshala Hapuarachchi, Thumalika Ekanayake, Imasha Perera, Chamudi Wickramaratne, Ishara Dharmasiri, Anjalika Thilakaratne, Samrudhi de Silva, Poornima Vaidyaratne, Thimi Wasanthapriya and Mihindum Keerthisiri