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Dambulla thrash Jaffna to clinch the title

National Super League 2023 Final
Team Dambulla outplayed team Jaffna by wickets to clinch the National Super League 50-Over Tournament 2023 in an interrupted final worked-off on Thursday (6) at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo.
Opting to bat first, Team Jaffna was restricted to a below-par score of 160 runs and in reply team, Dambulla reached the target in just 39 overs.
Earlier Jaffna was off to a decent start with a quick 31-run partnership for the first wicket, but it was cut short by pacer Asitha Fernando when he bamboozled Nishan Madushka with a peach of a delivery to get the initial breakthrough.
Navod Paranavithana then joined Kasun Abeyratne in the middle and shared a decent 37-run stand for the 2nd wicket, but it too didn’t last long as Kasun (17) bit the dust when he trapped LBW off Sonal Dinusha’s bowling.
Sonal Dinusha once again delivered when he got the all-important wicket of skipper Janith Liyanage (16) to make things worse for Team Jaffna.
With the scoreboard reading 3-97, Team Jaffna witnessed a nightmare where they lost 6 wickets for 48 runs to reduce them to 116-7 before rain halted play in the 33rd over.
After a break of about an hour, play resumed and Jaffna’s low-order batters managed to add 44 more valuable runs before being bowled out for a below-par score of 160 runs.
Paranavithana was the only batter to impress with a fighting 72 ball 51 runs including 6 boundaries, while none of the other batters was able to go past the 30-run mark.
Dambulla spinners Lakshan Sandakan, Dushan Hemantha and Sonal Dinusha were the architects of Jaffna’s collapse as they produced an outstanding bowling performance sharing 3 wickets each.
In reply, it was a walk in the park for Dambulla as they achieved the target in just 39 overs.
Though they got off to a poor start losing 2 top-order wickets for 29 runs inside the first 10 overs, Pavan Rathnayake and former under-19 skipper Ashan Priyanjan revived their innings with a 73-run partnership for the 3rd wicket to virtually seal the match.
Rathnayake top scored with 62 runs off 80 deliveries including 6 boundaries and a six, while all-rounder Sonal Dinusha also contributed with a useful unbeaten 42 runs to take their team home quite comfortably.
The win also saw Team Dambulla completing the double, where they also won the NSL 4-Day tournament a month ago.
Brief Scores
Team Jaffna: 160 (47.3) Navod Paranavithana 51, Jeffrey Vandersay 26*, Dilum Sudeera 23, Lakshan Sandakan 3/22, Dushan Hemantha 3/22, Sonal Dinusha 3/33)
Team Dambulla: 163/5 (39) Pavan Rathnayake 62, Sonal Dinusha 42*, Ashan Priyanjan 33, Binura Fernando 2/17, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/48)
Special Award Winners
Player of the Tournament – Ashen Bandara (Team Colombo)
Player of the Final – Sonal Dinusha (Team Dambulla)
Best Batter – Pasindu Sooriyabandara (Team Galle)
Best Bowler – Lahiru Samarakoon (Team Dambulla)
දඹුල්ල කණ්ඩායම යාපනය පරදවා ශූරතාව දිනා ගැනීමට සමත් විය
ජාතික සුපර් ලීග් 2023 අවසන් තරගය
බ්රහස්පතින්දා (6) දින කොළඹ ආර්. ප්රේමදාස ජාත්යන්තර ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාංගණයේදී පැවැති අවසන් තරගයේදී දඹුල්ල කණ්ඩායම, 2023 ජාතික සුපර් ලීග් ඕවර 50-ඕවර 50 තරගාවලිය ජය ගැනීමට යාපනය කණ්ඩායමට එරෙහිව කඩුලු දැවී ගියේය.
ප්රථමයෙන් පන්දුවට පහර දීමට තීරණය කළ යාපනය කණ්ඩායම ලකුණු 160 ට අඩු ලකුණු සංඛ්යාවකට සීමා වූ අතර පිළිතුරු ලෙස දඹුල්ල කණ්ඩායම පන්දුවාර 39 කදී එම ඉලක්කය පසුකර ගියේය.
යාපනයේ පළමු කඩුල්ල සඳහා වේගවත් ලකුණු 31ක සබඳතාවක් ගොඩනැගූ නමුත් එය ආරම්භක පිතිහරඹය සඳහා නිශාන් මධුෂ්කගේ පන්දුවකට කඩුල්ල මුවා කිරීමේ වරදට හසුකරගත් වේග පන්දු යවන ක්රීඩක අසිත ප්රනාන්දු විසින් එය කපා හැරියේය.
අනතුරුව නවෝද් පරණවිතාන කසුන් අබේරත්න සමග එක්ව දෙවැනි කඩුල්ලට ලකුණු 37ක යහපත් සබඳතාවක් ගොඩනැගූ නමුත් එයද වැඩි වේලාවක් නොපැමිණියේ කසුන් (17) සොනාල් දිනූෂගේ පන්දුවකට එල්බීඩබ්ලිව් දවාලීමට සමත් වූ බැවිනි.
නායක ජනිත් ලියනගේ (16) ගේ සියලු වැදගත් කඩුල්ල දවා ගැනීමත් සමඟ සොනාල් දිනූෂ යළිත් වරක් දැවී ගියේ යාපනය පිලේ තත්ත්වය වඩාත් නරක අතට හරවමිනි.
ලකුණු පුවරුව 3-97ක් ලෙස සටහන් වෙද්දී 33 වැනි ඕවරයේදී වර්ෂාවෙන් තරගය නතර කිරීමට පෙර ඔවුන් ලකුණු 48කට කඩුලු 6ක් දැවී ලකුණු 116-7කට සීමා කිරීමට යාපනය කණ්ඩායම බියකරු සිහිනයක් දුටුවේය.
පැයක පමණ විවේකයකින් පසුව නැවතත් තරගය ආරම්භ වූ අතර යාපනයේ පහත පෙළ පිතිකරුවන් තවත් අගනා ලකුණු 44ක් එක් කිරීමට සමත් වූ අතර ඊට පෙර ලකුණු 160ට අඩු ලකුණු සංඛ්යාවක් ලබා ගත හැකි විය.
පන්දු 72කදී හතරේ පහර 6ක් සමඟින් ලකුණු 51ක් රැස්කළ පරණවිතාන එකම පිතිකරුවා වූ අතර සෙසු කිසිඳු පිතිකරුවෙකුට ලකුණු 30 සීමාව පසු කිරීමට නොහැකි විය.
දඹුල්ලේ දඟපන්දු යවන්නන් වන ලක්ෂාන් සඳකැන්, දුෂාන් හේමන්ත සහ සොනාල් දිනූෂ කඩුලු 3 බැගින් බෙදී ගනිමින් කැපී පෙනෙන පන්දු යැවීමක නිරත වෙමින් යාපනයේ කඩා වැටීමේ නිර්මාපකයන් විය.
පිළිතුරු ඉනිම ක්රීඩා කළ දඹුල්ල කණ්ඩායම පන්දුවාර 39කදී එම ඉලක්කය සපුරා ගත්හ.
පළමු ඕවර 10 තුළදී ලකුණු 29කට මුල්පෙළ කඩුලු 2ක් බිඳ වැටී දුර්වල ආරම්භයක් ලබා ගත්තද, පවන් රත්නායක සහ වයස අවුරුදු 19න් පහළ හිටපු නායක අශාන් ප්රියංජන් තුන්වැනි කඩුල්ලට ලකුණු 73ක සබඳතාවක් පවත්වමින් සිය ඉනිමට පණ දුන්හ. තරගය.
රත්නායක පන්දු 80කදී හතරේ පහර 6ක් සහ හයේ පහරක් සමගින් ලකුණු 62ක් ලබා ගත් අතර තුන් ඉරියව් ක්රීඩක සොනාල් දිනූෂ නොදැවී ලකුණු 42ක් ලබා ගනිමින් කණ්ඩායම ඉතා පහසු ලෙස රැගෙන යාමට දායක විය.
මෙම ජයග්රහණයත් සමඟ දඹුල්ල කණ්ඩායම ද්විත්ව ශූරතාව සම්පූර්ණ කරන ලදී, එහිදී ඔවුන් මාසයකට පෙර NSL 4-දින තරඟාවලියද ජය ගත්තේය.
කෙටි ලකුණු
යාපනය කණ්ඩායම: 160 (47.3) නවෝද් පරණවිතාන 51, ජෙෆ්රි වැන්ඩර්සේ 26*, දිලුම් සුදීර 23, ලක්ෂාන් සඳකැන් 3/22, දුෂාන් හේමන්ත 3/22, සොනාල් දිනූෂා 3/33)
දඹුල්ල කණ්ඩායම: 163/5 (39) පවන් රත්නායක 62, සොනාල් දිනූෂා 42*, අශාන් ප්රියංජන් 33, බිනුර ප්රනාන්දු 2/17, ජෙෆ්රි වැන්ඩර්සේ 2/48)
විශේෂ සම්මානලාභීන්
තරගාවලියේ වීරයා – අශේන් බණ්ඩාර (කොළඹ කණ්ඩායම)
අවසන් තරගයේ ක්රීඩිකාව – සොනාල් දිනුෂා (දඹුල්ල කණ්ඩායම)
හොඳම පිතිකරු – පසිඳු සූරියබණ්ඩාර (ගාල්ල කණ්ඩායම)
හොඳම පන්දු යවන්නා – ලහිරු සමරකෝන් (කණ්ඩායම දඹුල්ල)
தம்புள்ளை யாழ்ப்பாணத்தை வீழ்த்தி பட்டத்தை தட்டிச் சென்றது
தேசிய சூப்பர் லீக் 2023 இறுதிப் போட்டி
கொழும்பு ஆர். பிரேமதாச சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட் மைதானத்தில் வியாழன் (6) அன்று நடைபெற்ற இடைநிறுத்தப்பட்ட இறுதிப் போட்டியில் தம்புள்ளை அணி 2023 தேசிய சுப்பர் லீக் 50 ஓவர் போட்டியை விக்கட் வித்தியாசத்தில் யாழ்ப்பாண அணியை வீழ்த்தி வெற்றி பெற்றது.
முதலில் துடுப்பெடுத்தாடத் தீர்மானித்த யாழ் அணி 160 ஓட்டங்களுக்குக் குறைவான ஸ்கோருக்கு மட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்டது, பதிலுக்குத் துடுப்பெடுத்தாடிய தம்புள்ளை அணி 39 ஓவர்களில் வெற்றி இலக்கை எட்டியது.
முன்னதாக யாழ்ப்பாணம் முதல் விக்கெட்டுக்கு விரைவான 31 ரன்கள் கூட்டாண்மையுடன் ஒரு நல்ல தொடக்கத்தை வழங்கியது, ஆனால் அது வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர் அசித்த பெர்னாண்டோவால் துண்டிக்கப்பட்டது, அவர் நிஷான் மதுஷ்காவை ஒரு பந்து வீச்சில் பீச் அடித்து ஆரம்ப திருப்புமுனையைப் பெற்றார்.
நவோத் பரணவிதான பின்னர் நடுவில் கசுன் அபேரத்னவுடன் இணைந்து 2ஆவது விக்கெட்டுக்கு 37 ஓட்டங்களைப் பகிர்ந்தார், ஆனால் அதுவும் நீண்ட நேரம் நீடிக்கவில்லை, ஆனால் கசுன் (17) சோனல் தினுஷாவின் பந்துவீச்சில் எல்பிடபிள்யூ மாட்டிக்கொண்டார்.
அணித் தலைவர் ஜனித் லியனகேவின் (16) சகல முக்கிய விக்கெட்டைப் பெற்றபோது சோனால் தினுஷா மீண்டும் ஒருமுறை வழங்கினார், அது யாழ்ப்பாண அணியை மோசமாக்கியது.
ஸ்கோர்போர்டு 3-97 ஆக இருந்த நிலையில், யாழ்ப்பாண அணி 48 ரன்களுக்கு 6 விக்கெட்டுகளை இழந்து 116-7 ஆகக் குறைக்க, 33வது ஓவரில் ஆட்டத்தை மழை நிறுத்துவதற்குள் ஒரு பயங்கரமான கனவைக் கண்டது.
சுமார் ஒரு மணி நேர இடைவெளிக்குப் பிறகு, ஆட்டம் மீண்டும் தொடங்கியது மற்றும் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின் குறைந்த-வரிசை பேட்டர்கள் 160 ரன்களுக்குக் குறைவான ஸ்கோரில் ஆட்டமிழக்க முன் மேலும் 44 பெறுமதியான ரன்களைச் சேர்க்க முடிந்தது.
பரணவிதான மட்டும் போராடி 72 பந்துகளில் 6 பவுண்டரிகள் உள்ளடங்கலாக 51 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்று அசத்தினார்.
தம்புள்ளை சுழற்பந்து வீச்சாளர்களான லக்ஷான் சந்தகன், துஷான் ஹேமந்த மற்றும் சோனல் தினுஷா ஆகியோர் தலா 3 விக்கெட்டுகளை பகிர்ந்து சிறப்பான பந்துவீச்சை வெளிப்படுத்தியதன் மூலம் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின் சரிவுக்கு சிற்பிகளாக இருந்தனர்.
பதிலுக்கு துடுப்பெடுத்தாடிய தம்புள்ளை அணி 39 ஓவர்களில் இலக்கை எட்டியது.
முதல் 10 ஓவர்களில் 29 ரன்களுக்கு 2 டாப்-ஆர்டர் விக்கெட்டுகளை இழந்து மோசமான தொடக்கத்தை பெற்றாலும், பவன் ரத்நாயக்க மற்றும் 19 வயதுக்குட்பட்ட முன்னாள் கேப்டன் அஷான் பிரியஞ்சன் ஆகியோர் 3வது விக்கெட்டுக்கு 73 ரன்களின் பார்ட்னர்ஷிப்பில் தங்கள் இன்னிங்ஸை மீட்டெடுத்தனர். பொருத்துக.
ரத்நாயக்க 80 பந்துகளில் 6 பவுண்டரிகள் மற்றும் ஒரு சிக்ஸர் உள்ளடங்கலாக 62 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்றுக் கொண்டார், அதேவேளை சகலதுறை ஆட்டக்காரர் சோனல் தினுஷாவும் பயனுள்ள ஆட்டமிழக்காமல் 42 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்று அணியை மிகவும் வசதியாக வீட்டிற்கு அழைத்துச் சென்றார்.
இந்த வெற்றியின் மூலம் தம்புல்லா அணி இரட்டைப் போட்டியை நிறைவு செய்தது, அங்கு அவர்கள் ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு முன்பு NSL 4-நாள் போட்டியையும் வென்றனர்.
சுருக்கமான மதிப்பெண்கள்
யாழ்ப்பாண அணி: 160 (47.3) நவோத் பரணவிதான 51, ஜெப்ரி வான்டர்சே 26*, திலும் சுதீர 23, லக்ஷன் சந்தகன் 3/22, துஷான் ஹேமந்த 3/22, சோனல் தினுஷா 3/33)
தம்புள்ளை அணி: 163/5 (39) பவன் ரத்நாயக்க 62, சோனல் தினுஷா 42*, அஷான் பிரியஞ்சன் 33, பினுர பெர்னாண்டோ 2/17, ஜெப்ரி வான்டர்சே 2/48)
சிறப்பு விருது பெற்றவர்கள்
போட்டியின் சிறந்த வீரர் – அஷேன் பண்டார (அணி கொழும்பு)
இறுதி ஆட்டக்காரர் – சோனல் தினுஷா (தம்புள்ளை அணி)
சிறந்த பேட்டர் – பசிந்து சூரியபண்டார (அணி காலி)
சிறந்த பந்து வீச்சாளர் – லஹிரு சமரகோன் (அணி தம்புள்ளை)
Football
FFSL Misses FIFA Opportunities Again Amid Concerns of Transparency and Inaction
While FIFA continues to invest heavily in global football development through initiatives like Forward 3.0 and Football for Schools (F4S), the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) once again finds itself lagging behind—not because of lack of funding opportunities, but due to its own failures in administration, planning, and transparency.
Millions Left on the Table
FIFA’s Forward 3.0 programme offers USD 8 million per member association for the 2023–2026 cycle—an increase from previous cycles. These funds are specifically allocated for operational costs and football development projects, including infrastructure, national team support, grassroots leagues, and more.
Under Forward 3.0, FIFA allocates:
- USD 5 million for operational costs
- USD 3 million for infrastructure and development projects
Yet, as of April 2025, FFSL has failed to fully leverage these funds. Most notably, Sri Lanka missed out on FIFA’s Football for Schools initiative, which offers USD 50,000, training content, digital platforms, and Adidas footballs for schools. Since the programme began in 2019, over 100 nations have actively rolled it out. Sri Lanka is not one of them.
Lack of Vision or Lack of Will?
Despite FIFA’s clear roadmap and generous funding, FFSL’s inability to fulfill the conditions required—such as active domestic leagues, functional youth structures, and proper digital systems—has blocked their eligibility for key fund releases.
The federation’s operations are also marred by repeated promises and half-baked publicity stunts. Take for example the international stadium project, which was announced multiple times across various locations—Port City, Negombo, and most recently Colombo—but not a single brick has been laid. These announcements appear to be more about media optics than serious project planning or execution.
Global Benchmark: A Stark Contrast
While other nations are making strides in football development using FIFA funds—as showcased in FIFA’s Member Associations in Focus – January 2025 (link)—Sri Lanka continues to fall behind. Countries like India, Nepal, and the Maldives have successfully hosted international matches, built infrastructure, and even expanded their youth programmes using Forward funding.
Meanwhile, FFSL’s financial practices continue to raise questions. A lack of clear audits, poorly executed projects, and insufficient stakeholder engagement have painted a picture of administrative incompetence.
Time for Accountability
As Sri Lanka’s football stagnates while the rest of Asia pushes forward, fans and stakeholders must demand greater transparency, professionalism, and action. It’s time the FFSL stopped making headlines and started building foundations—literally and metaphorically—for the future of football in the country.
Athletics
Sri Lanka Secures Three Medals at Asian U18 Athletics Championships – Day 3 Highlights
Dammam, Saudi Arabia – April 17
The third day of the 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championships in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, delivered a vibrant mix of speed, strength, and rising talent from across the continent. Set against the backdrop of Prince Nayef Sports City, over 400 athletes representing 31 nations competed with passion and purpose. Among them, Sri Lanka earned three spots on the podium with standout performances in track and field.
🌟 Sewmini Fernando was the star on the track, sprinting to silver in the Girls’ 100m final. Clocking an impressive 11.92 seconds, she finished just behind China’s Zhang Qian, in what was one of the evening’s most closely watched races. Her performance not only demonstrated raw speed but also Sri Lanka’s growing potential in sprint events on the Asian stage.
🥉 Meanwhile, in the Boys’ 1500m final, Lahiru Achintha displayed excellent race awareness and endurance, finishing in third place with a time of 3:59.47. His tactical approach and strong finish earned Sri Lanka a bronze medal, making him one of the standout middle-distance performers of the day.
🏅 In addition to these podium finishes, Janith Lakshan Jenkins leapt into medal contention in the Men’s U18 Triple Jump, claiming silver with a mark of 15.10 meters, just behind China’s Dong Zhiyuan.
Though only three athletes officially medaled on Day 3, performances across the board showed promise, heart, and competitive spirit — vital traits for building a strong future in athletics.
Stay tuned as Team Sri Lanka continues to compete and inspire at this prestigious youth championship.
🟡 Sri Lanka’s Medal Count – Day 3
🥈 Sewmini Fernando – Girls’ 100m
🥈 Janith Lakshan Jenkins – Boys’ Triple Jump
🥉 Lahiru Achintha – Boys’ 1500m
#SriLankaAthletics #AsianU18 #SewminiFernando #LakshanJenkins #LahiruAchintha #SriLankanYouth #Dammam2025 #TrackAndField #SriLankanSportsTV #PrideOfTheNation
News
Sri Lanka Names 25-Man Squad for Crucial Rugby Clash Against Malaysia
Sri Lanka Rugby has officially received the Sports Minister’s approval for a 25-member national squad, led by seasoned campaigner Nigel Ratwatte, ahead of the high-stakes playoff match against Malaysia. The game will determine qualification for the Asia Rugby Top 4 Championship, a key milestone in Sri Lanka’s bid for a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The match, scheduled for April 19, is expected to be a fierce contest as the Tuskers aim to re-establish themselves among Asia’s rugby elite. A win would secure home games against South Korea and UAE, with the away fixture coming against Hong Kong.
The squad features a mix of experienced players and promising young talent, showing the depth of Sri Lanka’s rugby potential. Backline firepower includes Danushka Ranjan, Akash Madhushanka, and Janidu Dilshan, while the forward pack boasts names like Janidu Fernando, Pulasthi Dissanayake, and Lasindu Karunathilake.
Approved Squad for Malaysia Match
Forwards:
- Janidu Fernando
- Pulasthi Dissanayake
- Senura Perera
- Naveen Marasinghe
- Thilina Bandara
- Nizran Nillar
- Tharindu Chathuranga
- Lasindu Karunathilake
Backs:
- Heshan Jansen
- Nigel Ratwatte (Captain)
- Janidu Dilshan
- Akash Madhushanka
- Danushka Ranjan
- Dinal Ekanayake
- Mursheed Zubair
Finishers (Replacements):
- Vimukthi Gamage
- Nirosh Perera
- Mohamed Rifan
- Thenuka Nanayakkara
- Pasindu Bandara
- Thanuja Jayaweera
- Dahan Wickramarachchi
- Venura Kodagoda
Standby:
- Malitha Wijesundara
- Hirantha Perera
Team Management & Support Staff
- Chef De Mission: Udaya Hettiarachchi
- Team Manager: Rohan Chinthaka
- Head Coach: Sanath Martis
- Forwards Coach: Dushanth Lewke
- Backs Coach: Saliya Kumara
- Strength & Conditioning Coach: Tharaka Algama
- Team Doctor: Dr. Pradeep Kiriella
- Physiotherapist: Shafin Majeed
- Masseurs: Manoj Silva, Sanka Dilshan de Silva, L. P. P. Sameera
With preparations intensifying, the squad is in full training mode under the guidance of Sanath Martis and his coaching unit. The players are eyeing a return to the continental spotlight, and the nation will be rallying behind the boys in maroon as they take on Malaysia in this do-or-die battle.
Stay tuned to Sri Lankan Sports TV for full match coverage and updates.
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