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Bhanuka talks about Asia Cup Preparations…
The team has good experienced players and even players who have played in the UAE in our team are a good strength for the team. The Afghanistan team is also an unreliable team. Before coming to UAE, we participated in some good training sessions as well as training matches. With our good preparation, we hope to give a good match to the Afghanistan team.
- Who will be playing XI in the first match?
The selectors have not said anything about it yet. Good things will happen as we expect. We hope to play the first match with 11 good players.
- What about your personal skills?
Actually, I think that I personally scored well in the last world cup. I was able to give my contribution to the team by scoring as many runs as needed as per a plan at the time the team needed. I have played many matches in UAE stadiums, including Sharjah Dubai. Most of the pitches are designed to suit the batsmen. The team is expected to score the required runs in this Asia Cup as well.
- What is the team plan?
Our team is in a positive mood. As a team, we hope to win by showing our talent again and again. In this tournament, we will be playing against first Afghanistan and then Bangladesh team. It is mandatory to be among the best in both these matches to stay in the tournament. There were no cricket tournaments in the last two or three months. No tournament was held after the Australian tour. So there is a little bit of panic as far as this series because after that we have the World Cup to play.
- What do you have to say to fans?
This is how we know that the audience will love us no matter where we are. We hope to show our best skills. So we request you to stay with us in this tournament as you have always stayed with us. We are doing our best in this tournament to raise the Sri Lankan flag high.
ආසියානු කුසලාන සූදානම ගැන භානුක කියයි…
කණ්ඩායමේ හොද අත්දැකීම් බහුල ක්රීඩකයන් සිටිනව. UAE වල ක්රීඩා කල ක්රීඩකයින් පවා අප කණ්ඩාම තුළ සිටීම කණ්ඩායමට හොද ශක්තියක්. ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන කණ්ඩායම කියන්නෙත් විශ්වාස කළ නොහැකි කණ්ඩායමක්. UAE එන්න කලින් අපි හොද පුහුණු සැසි කිහිපයකට මෙන්ම, පුහුණු තරග වලටද සහභාගි වුනා. අපහේ හොද සූදානමත් එක්ක හොද තරගයක් ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන කණ්ඩායමට දීමට බලාපොරොත්තු වෙනව.
- පළමු තරගයේ ක්රීඩා කරන 11 දෙන්නා කවුරුන්ද?
ඒ පිළිබදව තේරීම්කරුවන් කිසි දෙයක් පවසල නෑ තවම. ඒ දේවල් අපි බලාපොරොත්තු වෙන විදිහට හොද දේවල් සිද්ධ වෙයි. අපි බලාපොරොත්තු වෙනව හොද ක්රීඩකයන් 11 දෙනෙකු සමග පලමු තරගය ක්රීඩා කිරීමට.
- ඔබගේ පුද්ගලික දස්කම් ගැන කතා කලොත්?
ඇත්තටම මම හිතනව පසුගිය world cup එකේ පෞද්ගලිකව මම හොදට ලකුණු රැස් කලා කියල. කණ්ඩායමට අවශ්ය වෙලාවෙ සැලසුමකට අනුව අවශ්ය වෙලාවෙ අවශ්ය විදියට ලකුණු රැස්කර දීමත් සමග මගේ දායකත්වය කණ්ඩායමට ලබා දීමට හැකියාව ලැබුනා. මම ගොඩක් තරග UAE ක්රීඩාංගන වන සාජා ඩුබායි ක්රීඩා කරල තියෙනව. බොහොමයක් තණතීරු පිතිකරුවන්ට උචිත වන අන්දමට තමා සකසල තියෙන්නේ. මේම ආසියානු කුසලානයෙත් කණ්ඩායමට අවශ්ය විදිහට ලකුණු රැස් කරදීමට බලාපොරොත්තු වෙනවා.
- කණ්ඩායම් විදිහට තිබෙන සැලසුම කුමක්ද?
අපගේ කණ්ඩායම හොද මානසික මට්ටමක සිටිනවා. කණ්ඩායමක් විදිහට අපගේ දක්ෂතා නැවත නැවත පෙන්වීම තුළින් ජයග්රහණය කිරීමට බලාපොරොත්තු වෙනව. මෙම තරගාවලියෙත් මුලින්ම ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන කණ්ඩායම හා ඉන් පසු බංගලාදේශ කණ්ඩායම් හා තරග වැදීමට නියමිතව තිබෙනව. මෙම තරග දෙකෙත් උපරිම දක්ෂතා අතරට පැමිණීම අනිවාර්ය වෙනව තරගාවලියේ රැදී සිටීමට නම්. පසුගිය මාස දෙකේ තුනේ ක්රිකට් තරගාවලි පැවතුනේ නෑ. ඕස්ට්රේලියානු තරග සංචාරයෙන් පසුව තරගාවලියක් පැවැත්තුනේ නෑ. ඉතින් මේ තරගාවලිය3 තරම් දුරට පොඩි තැතිගැන්මක් තිබෙනව, ඉන් පසුව අපිට ලෝක කුසලානය ක්රීඩා කිරීමට තිබෙන නිසා.
- ප්රේක්ෂකයන්ට පැවසීමට තිබෙන දේ?
මෙහෙමයි අපි දන්නව අපි කොතන කොහොම හිටියත් ප්රේක්ෂකයෝ අපිට අදරෙයි කියල. අපි අපේ උපරිම දක්ෂතා දක්වන්න තමා බලාපොරොත්තුව. ඉතින් ඉල්ලා සිටිනවා අපිත් සමග හැමදාම රැදී සිටිය වගේ මේ තරගාවලියෙත් අපිත් සමග රැදී සිටින ලෙස. ශ්රී ලංකා ධජය ඉහලින්ම එසවීමට අපි මේ තරගාවලියේ උපරිම උත්සහයෙන් ක්රියා කරනව.
ஆசியக் கோப்பைக்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் குறித்து பானுகா கூறியபோது…
அணியில் நல்ல அனுபவம் வாய்ந்த வீரர்கள் உள்ளனர். ஐக்கிய அரபு அமீரகத்தில் விளையாடிய வீரர்கள் கூட எங்கள் அணியில் இருப்பது அணிக்கு நல்ல பலம். ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணியும் நம்பகத்தன்மையற்ற அணி. ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்ஸுக்கு வருவதற்கு முன்பு, நாங்கள் சில நல்ல பயிற்சி அமர்வுகள் மற்றும் பயிற்சி ஆட்டங்களில் பங்கேற்றோம். எங்களின் நல்ல தயாரிப்புடன், ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணிக்கு நல்ல போட்டியை வழங்குவோம் என நம்புகிறோம்.
- முதல் போட்டியில் விளையாடும் XI யார்?
இதுபற்றி தேர்வாளர்கள் இதுவரை எதுவும் கூறவில்லை. நாம் எதிர்பார்த்தபடி நல்லதே நடக்கும். முதல் போட்டியில் 11 நல்ல வீரர்களுடன் விளையாடுவோம் என நம்புகிறோம்.
- உங்கள் தனிப்பட்ட திறமைகள் பற்றி கூறினால்?
உண்மையில், கடந்த உலகக் கோப்பையில் நான் தனிப்பட்ட முறையில் நன்றாக அடித்தேன் என்று நினைக்கிறேன். அணிக்கு தேவையான நேரத்தில் ஒரு திட்டத்தின் படி தேவையான புள்ளிகளை சேகரித்து அணிக்கு எனது பங்களிப்பை வழங்க முடிந்தது. ஷார்ஜா துபாயில் உள்ள ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்ஸ் மைதானங்களில் பல போட்டிகளில் விளையாடியுள்ளேன். பெரும்பாலான ஆடுகளங்கள் பேட்ஸ்மேன்களுக்கு ஏற்றவாறு வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. இந்த ஆசிய கோப்பையிலும் அணி தேவையான புள்ளிகளை பெறும் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகிறது.
- அணியின் திட்டம் என்ன?
எங்கள் அணி நல்ல மனநிலையில் உள்ளது. ஒரு அணியாக, மீண்டும் மீண்டும் திறமையை வெளிப்படுத்தி வெற்றி பெறுவோம். இந்தப் போட்டியில் முதலில் ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணியுடனும், பின்னர் வங்கதேச அணியுடனும் மோதவுள்ளது. போட்டியில் நீடிக்க இந்த இரண்டு போட்டிகளிலும் சிறந்து விளங்குவது கட்டாயமாகும். கடந்த இரண்டு மூன்று மாதங்களாக கிரிக்கெட் போட்டிகள் நடைபெறவில்லை. ஆஸ்திரேலிய சுற்றுப்பயணத்திற்கு பிறகு எந்த போட்டியும் நடத்தப்படவில்லை. அதனால் இந்த தொடர் கொஞ்சம் கடினமாய் உள்ளது, ஏனென்றால் அதன் பிறகு நாம் உலகக் கோப்பை விளையாட வேண்டும்.
- பார்வையாளர்களுக்கு என்ன கூற விரும்புகிறீர்கள்?
நாம் எங்கிருந்தாலும் பார்வையாளர்கள் நம்மை நேசிப்பார்கள் என்பது இப்படித்தான் தெரியும். எங்களின் சிறந்த திறமைகளை வெளிப்படுத்துவோம் என நம்புகிறோம். எனவே நீங்கள் எப்போதும் எங்களுடன் தங்கியிருந்ததைப் போல இந்த போட்டியிலும் எங்களுடன் இருக்குமாறு கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறோம். இந்தப் போட்டியில் இலங்கைக் கொடியை உயர்த்துவதற்கு எங்களால் முடிந்த அனைத்தையும் செய்து வருகிறோம்.
News by Thilina Madusanka
News
Negombo Gears Up for “Run for Hope” as Community Spirit Takes Center Stage
Negombo is preparing to host a vibrant and purpose-driven community event later this month, as Run for Hope arrives on May 23rd with a message that reaches far beyond the track.
Scheduled to begin at 6:00 AM at Kotuwa Grounds, the event is expected to draw participants from across the region, blending athletic enthusiasm with a shared commitment to social impact. Organizers say the run is designed to be inclusive, welcoming everyone from competitive runners to casual walkers and families looking to support a meaningful cause.
The initiative is led by the Voice Foundation, a group focused on empowering vulnerable communities. Through Run for Hope, the foundation aims to shine a spotlight on the challenges faced by single mothers while promoting supportive alternatives and long-term solutions through awareness and outreach programs.
This upcoming event follows a successful run earlier this year in Kandy, where strong participation and community backing highlighted the growing momentum behind the campaign. Organizers believe the Negombo edition will further expand that reach, bringing new voices and supporters into the movement.
In addition to the run itself, careful planning has gone into ensuring participant safety and comfort. Hydration points, volunteer assistance, and medical support will be available throughout the course, creating a well-organized and welcoming environment.
Local businesses, media partners, and volunteers have also joined hands to support theinitiative, reinforcing the idea that collective action can lead to meaningful change. The event is not only about physical endurance but also about raising awareness and encouraging compassion within society.
Registrations remain open, and organizers encourage early sign-ups as interest continues to grow. Participants and supporters can obtain more information via WhatsApp by contacting 077 251 2374 or 077 861 2374.
Cricket
Sri Lanka to Begin Caribbean Tour with ODI Series in June 2026
The Sri Lanka national cricket team is set to embark on a full tour of the West Indies cricket team in June and July 2026, featuring a complete schedule across all three formats of the game.
The tour will open with a three-match One Day International (ODI) series at the renowned Sabina Park. The first ODI is scheduled for June 3, followed by the second on June 6 and the final match on June 8. These opening fixtures are expected to set the tone for the remainder of the tour.
Attention will then shift to the shorter format, with three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) also taking place at Sabina Park. The matches are set for June 11, June 13, and June 14, offering fans a fast-paced contest between the two sides.
Sri Lanka will then travel to Antigua for a four-day warm-up game from June 18 to 21 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. This match will serve as preparation for the longer format of the game.
The two-match Test series will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The first Test is scheduled from June 25 to 29, while the second Test will take place from July 3 to 7.
Schedule
- June 3 – First ODI at Sabina Park
- June 6 – Second ODI at Sabina Park
- June 8 – Third ODI at Sabina Park
- June 11 – First T20I at Sabina Park
- June 13 – Second T20I at Sabina Park
- June 14 – Third T20I at Sabina Park
- June 18–21 – Four-day warm-up match at Coolidge Cricket Ground
- June 25–29 – First Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
- July 3–7 – Second Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
Athletics
Hero’s Welcome for Golden Girl Wasana
Sri Lanka celebrated in style as its lone gold medalist Nipuni Wasana at the 6th Asian Beach Games returned home to a rousing welcome, marking a proud moment for the nation.
Airwoman Nipuni Wasana stole the spotlight in Sanya, China, where she clinched gold in the Women’s 50kg Beach Wrestling event. In the final, she overcame Vietnam’s Doan Thi Kim Oanh with a composed and commanding performance, securing a historic victory for Sri Lanka.
Her achievement was met with a grand at Bandaranaike International Airport, where Air Force personnel, sports officials, and supporters gathered to honor her success. Wasana was also given the distinction of carrying the national flag at the closing ceremony, highlighting her status as the country’s top performer at the Games.
Sri Lanka wrapped up its campaign with a total of seven medals one gold, two silver, and four bronze demonstrating competitive strength across multiple disciplines.
The Women’s Beach Kabaddi team delivered an impressive performance to secure silver, while the Men’s team contributed with a bronze medal finish. In Athletics, Ishara Samanmali earned silver in the women’s long jump, and Sashikala Lankathilaka claimed bronze. The Men’s 4x60m relay team also added to the tally with a bronze-winning effort.
A contingent of 77 Sri Lankan athletes competed in eight sports at the Games. Although several disciplines did not produce medals, the team achieved a respectable 10th place overall.
Host nation China dominated the medal standings with 24 gold medals, followed by Thailand and Iran.
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