News
Overseas Football Players who are eligible to Represent Sri Lanka
There are currently numerous players with strong Sri Lankan roots who play football in Overseas Leagues. Football Sri Lanka has kept a close eye on all these players, tracking their progress and skill levels to see which players can bring a positive impact to the Sri Lankan National Team
The following five players have already applied for dual citizenship and started the necessary processes of making it into the National squad, while the rest are yet to start any such procedures;
Players who are already applied for the Dual Citizenship to represent the National Team
- Hamilton O Mervyn
Age : 32 yrs. (DOB: 8 Oct 1988)
Height : 6’
Citizenship : British
Position : Midfield
Current club : Whitehawk FC
League : Whitehawk FC is a Semi Professional, non-league English football club based in Whitehawk, a suburb of the city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. Whitehawk FC play in the Isthmian South East Division (English non-league step 4 – Level 8)
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
2. Reef Sebastian Peries
Age : 19 yrs (DOB: 30 Oct. 2001)
Height : 5’ 11”
Citizenship : British
Position : Right Wing Back
Current club : Woking FC (Academy Team)
League : Woking Football Club is a semi-professional association football club, based in Woking, Surrey, England. Founded in 1889, the club plays its home matches at Kingfield Stadium and is nicknamed the Cardinals. Currently, they compete in the National League, the fifth tier of English football.
Category : Sri Lankan Grandparent
3. Ryan Anthony Peries
Age :18 yrs (DOB: 20 Jul 2002)
Height : 6’ 2”
Citizenship : British
Position : Midfield
Current club : Bournemouth University FC
Category : Sri Lankan Grandparent
4. Haneef Mohamed Haseef Mohamed
Age : 27 yrs (DOB: 23 Aug 1993)
Height : 5’ 6”
Citizenship : Switzerland
Position : Left / Right Winger, Attacking Midfielder
Current club : FC Engstringen
League : FC Engstringen plays in the Football Association of the Zurich Region FVRZ 3rd League of Swiss Football Association.
Category : Sri Lankan Father & Mother
5. Vigneswaran Dagsan
Age : 16 yrs (DOB: 02 May 2004)
Height : 6’
Citizenship : Switzerland
Position : Center Back / Midfielder
Current club : Lausanne Sport
League : FC Engstringen plays in the Football Association of the Zurich Region FVRZ 3rd League of Swiss Football Association.
Category : Sri Lankan Father & Mother
Players who are eligible to apply for the Dual Citizenship to represent the National Team
- Claudio Matthias
Age : 21 yrs (DOB: 7 July 1999)
Height : 6’ 1”
Citizenship : Deutsch (German)
Position : Center Back, Left Back, Right Back
Current club : SC Freiburg
League : Sport-Club Freiburg e.V., commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. It plays in the Bundesliga. SC Freiburg II is the reserve team of German association football club SC Freiburg plays in the Regionalliga Südwest (English: Regional League Southwest) is the fourth tier of the German football league system in the states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. It is one of five leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Bayern, Regionalliga Nordost, Regionalliga Nord, and the Regionalliga West.
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
2. Canistan Regize
Age : 23 yrs (DOB: 25 Mar 1997)
Height : 5’ 7”
Citizenship : French
Position : Midfielder
Current club : FC Montceau, Boergogne
League : Football Club Montceau Bourgogne is a French association football team founded in 1948. They are based in Montceau-les-Mines, Bourgogne, France and are currently playing in the Championnat National 3. The league serves as the fifth division of the French Football League.
Category : Sri Lankan Father & Mother
3. Kelly Garrett Christopher
Age : 24 yrs (DOB: 13 Apr 1996)
Height : 6’ 1”
Citizenship : British
Position : Central Midfield
Current club : Almyros Gaziou FC (Greece)
League : Almyros Gaziou FC plays in the Gamma Ethniki the fourth highest football league in Greece.
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
4. Manimeldura Leon Perera
Age : 23 yrs (DOB: 1 Jan 1997)
Height : 5’ 8”
Citizenship : Deutsch (German)
Position : Central Midfield
Current club : MTV Treubund Lüneburg
League : MTV Treubund Lüneburg competes in the Landesliga Lüneburg, called the Bezirksoberliga Lüneburg from 1979 to 1994 and 2006 to 2010, is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony.
Category : Sri Lankan Father
5. Tiffan Anthonypillai
Age : 18 yrs. (DOB: 21 Sep 2002)
Height : 5’ 7”
Citizenship : Canadian
Position : Right Back
Current club : Cs Saint-Laurent, Montréal,Canada
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
6. Chikereuba Tochokwu Francis
Age : 27 yrs (DOB: 24 Apr 1993)
Height : 6’ 3”
Citizenship : Nigerian
Position : Central Defender
Current club : Java Lane SC, Colombo
League : Champions League – Sri Lanka
Category : Sri Lankan Spouse & Children
7. Poopathithasan Nilooshan
Age : 19 yrs (DOB: 19 Jul 2001)
Height : TBC
Citizenship : Deutsch (German)
Position : TBC
Current club : TBC
Category : Sri Lankan Mother
Furthermore, Waseem Razeek and his brother Muzakir Razeek already eligible to represent the country.
Football
India Crushes Sri Lanka 8-0 in SAFF U-19 Championship Opener: A Wake-Up Call for Football Authorities
Sri Lanka’s U-19 football team suffered a devastating 8-0 defeat at the hands of India in their opening match of the SAFF U-19 Championship 2025 held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
From the opening whistle, Sri Lanka appeared unprepared and disorganized, allowing India to dominate every aspect of the match. The scoreline, split evenly with four goals in each half, highlights the defensive collapse and tactical shortcomings of the Lankan side.
India’s Danny Meitei Laishram netted a hat-trick, while Prashan Jajo added a brace, showcasing the stark contrast in quality and preparation between the two teams. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, failed to register any meaningful threat on goal throughout the match.
This humiliating loss raises serious concerns about the strategic planning and readiness of the national youth setup. Despite months to prepare for the tournament, the team lacked structure, fitness, and cohesion—fundamental aspects of international football. The technical team must face questions about the lack of competitive match exposure, tactical discipline, and defensive organization.
Moreover, the physical conditioning of the squad appeared subpar, and substitutions made during the game had minimal impact. The repeated lapses in positioning, marking, and pressing made it clear that the squad was outclassed not just physically but mentally and tactically.
This result must serve as a wake-up call for the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. Talent alone will not bridge the growing gulf between Sri Lanka and regional rivals unless it’s paired with structured development, professional coaching, and consistent investment in youth football.
Sri Lanka must now regroup quickly as they face Nepal U-19 in their next group match on May 11. The path to redemption begins with accountability—and urgent change.
In a major development impacting global cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been temporarily suspended for a week, while the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been moved to the UAE due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
The decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pause the IPL was announced on Friday, following heightened military activity along the border in the Kashmir region. The situation has raised significant safety concerns, leading to a precautionary suspension of one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.
“The well-being of players, officials, and fans is paramount. The resumption schedule will be shared after reviewing the evolving situation,” the BCCI said, emphasizing national security as the overriding concern.
This year’s IPL season, which began in March, still had 12 group-stage fixtures remaining before the playoffs. The final, initially scheduled for May 25 in Kolkata, may now face delays or venue changes.
The recent blackout during the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala, along with the closure of several airports in northern India, further complicated logistics. Punjab’s upcoming match against Mumbai Indians has already been shifted from Dharamshala to Mumbai as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the relocation of the remainder of the PSL season to Dubai. This move follows increased concerns from foreign players and support staff about their safety.
An incident involving a drone crash near the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium just hours before a scheduled PSL match has heightened security concerns. The match was to feature several international stars from countries including Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies.
The ongoing crisis has put the cricketing world on alert, with both cricket boards closely monitoring the geopolitical situation. While cricket holds a significant place in both nations’ cultures, current developments have shifted priorities toward safety and stability.
Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that the Bangladesh National Men’s Team will tour the island from June 13 to July 16, 2025, for a multi-format bilateral series featuring 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 3 T20Is.
The tour kicks off with the Test series, which begins on June 17 at Galle International Stadium, followed by the second Test from June 25 to 29 at the SSC in Colombo. This red-ball series will offer crucial preparation and exposure for both sides ahead of the upcoming ICC events.
Sri Lanka holds a dominant record in Test encounters, having won 20 out of 26 matches against Bangladesh. Bangladesh has managed just one win, with five Tests ending in draws. Their last Test series in April 2024 saw Sri Lanka claim a clean sweep in Bangladesh, 2-0.
The limited-overs leg begins with ODIs on July 2 and 5 at R. Premadasa Stadium, before the third match takes place on July 8 at Pallekele — all day-night games starting at 2:30 PM.
The action continues with the T20I series, starting July 10 in Pallekele, followed by matches in Dambulla (July 13) and a final showdown at R. Premadasa Stadium on July 16.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Tour Fixtures – 2025:
- June 17–21: 1st Test – Galle
- June 25–29: 2nd Test – SSC, Colombo
- July 2: 1st ODI – R. Premadasa Stadium
- July 5: 2nd ODI – R. Premadasa Stadium
- July 8: 3rd ODI – Pallekele
- July 10: 1st T20I – Pallekele
- July 13: 2nd T20I – Dambulla
- July 16: 3rd T20I – R. Premadasa Stadium
This tour promises exciting cricket as both teams aim to fine-tune their squads across formats.
India Crushes Sri Lanka 8-0 in SAFF U-19 Championship Opener: A Wake-Up Call for Football Authorities
IPL Temporarily Suspended, PSL Relocated Amid Rising Tensions Between India and Pakistan
Bangladesh to Tour Sri Lanka for Full-Fledged Series in June-July 2025
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