Sri Lanka’s sprint sensation and Birmingham Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Yupun Abeykoon, has confirmed his participation in two key international athletic events this year, following a formal request by Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA).

Abeykoon is set to compete in the 4th South Asian Senior Athletics Championship in Ranchi, India, scheduled for May 3–5, and the 26th Asian Senior Athletics Championship in Gumi, South Korea, from May 27–31. These events will mark his return to international competition after an extended break due to injury.

Abeykoon, who is currently based in Italy, has already secured the required travel documentation to compete in India. The 29-year-old sprinter missed several major meets over the past two years — including the 2022 Asian Games, the 2022 Asian Athletics Championship in Bangkok, and the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest — due to a lingering foot injury.

Despite his absence from the global stage, he remains the fastest man in South Asia in both the 100m and 200m events and is viewed as a major medal prospect for Sri Lanka in upcoming competitions.

Meanwhile, Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunarathna has opted out of both upcoming championships. Tharushi, who secured the 400m title at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, is currently pursuing higher studies in the United States on a sports scholarship. Her focus is now on long-term preparation, with sights set on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

While she has verbally communicated her unavailability, SLA has requested an official written statement regarding her withdrawal from the two events.

In addition to these regional competitions, Sri Lanka is also gearing up for the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, slated for September 13–21, 2025.

With Abeykoon’s return and other emerging talents in the pipeline, Sri Lanka hopes to make a strong impression on the Asian and global athletics circuits in the months ahead.

#YupunAbeykoon #SriLankaAthletics #AsianChampionship2025 #SouthAsianChampionship #TharushiKarunarathna #Olympics2028 #TrackAndField #SriLankanSportsTV

Football fever returns as Stafford International School and Colombo International School gear up for the second edition of their highly anticipated Big Match! This year, the rivalry intensifies with four matches across different age and gender categories:

✅ U15 Girls
✅ U15 Boys
✅ U20 Girls
✅ U20 Boys

🏆 Stafford International’s Rising Stars:

• U15 Girls: Defending TISSL U14 and Colombo SLSFA District champions, featuring standout players like Keshalee Ranatunga and Sonja Ratanayake (just 10 years old!).
• U15 Boys: All-Island U14 runners-up out of 462 schools, led by goalkeeper Yash Amarasekara, who was named Best U14 GK in Sri Lanka.
• U20 Girls & Boys: Both teams finished as TISSL runners-up, boasting stars like Raya Rikaz, Yumna Safraz, Adnaan Ameen, and Nidurshan Mohan.

🏆 Colombo International’s Key Players:

• U15 Girls: TISSL U16 runners-up, featuring top defender Khadeeja Niyas and striker Ozra.
• U20 Girls: TISSL U20 runners-up, with Fioni Dedhia named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
• U20 Boys: Defending Big Match champions, looking to retain their title behind stars like Krishwen and Habib.

👀 Who will come out on top this time? Watch the action LIVE at the link below! 🎥👇

#BigMatch2025 #SchoolFootball #SriLankaFootball #StaffordVsCIS #RivalryRenewed

Shammi Silva has been re-elected as the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president for the 2025-27 term, marking his fourth consecutive tenure at the helm of the nation’s cricket governing body. Silva secured the position uncontested at the 64th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Colombo on Monday.

A Controversial Yet Dominant Tenure

Silva’s leadership has not been without controversy. His previous term saw a high-profile clash with former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in 2023, which led to an interim committee being appointed after Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the ICC ODI World Cup. This move resulted in ICC suspending SLC, which led to Sri Lanka losing the hosting rights for the U19 Men’s World Cup, which was later held in South Africa.

Despite these setbacks, Silva regained control after a court ruling reinstated his administration, and he was later appointed as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in December 2023, replacing Jay Shah.

Challenges & Future Outlook

Sri Lanka Cricket has long been seen as a powerful and influential body, with internal politics often shaping its leadership. With financial mismanagement concerns highlighted in the Auditor General’s report, Silva’s administration faces the challenge of restoring credibility and ensuring better governance.

With the ICC ban lifted, Sri Lanka looks to rebuild its cricketing structure and improve performance on the international stage. The focus now shifts to upcoming bilateral series, the Asia Cup, and preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Stay tuned for more updates on Sri Lanka Cricket and the latest in the world of sports!