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”Giving Boost to Army Cricket, Thisara & Chandimal Adorned with ‘Major’ Insignia

Published

5 years ago

October 9, 2020

Editor

Sri Lanka Army on the eve of its Army Day (10 October) and the 71st Anniversary received an additional stimulant to the distinctive flavor of cricket in the Army upon enlistment of internationally-famed professional cricketers, Thisara Perera and Dinesh Chandimal to the rank of Major during a simple ceremony, held at the Commander’s office this morning (9).

Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army who is also the Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention COVID-19 Outbreak, taking a respite from his busy schedule, pinned rank insignia on both of them who joined the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) and expressed his happiness by congratulating both of them.

Major Thisara Perera who has also contributed to the growth of cricket among budding cricketers in the Gajaba Regiment earlier has been enlisted to the Gajaba Regiment (GR), in which HE the President and the Secretary Defence were also respected veterans. At present, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva is the Colonel of the Regiment, Gajaba Regiment in addition to being the Colonel of the Regiment of Special Forces.

Major Dinesh Chandimal, the first captain to lead Sri Lanka in the first day-night Test Match, has been enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps (SLAOC) Regiment.

Thisara Perera is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer and a former limited overs captain for Sri Lanka,who currently represents Sri Lanka in limited over formats. Primarily a bowling all-rounder, he is an aggressive left-handed batsman who can hit big sixes in death overs and is a useful right-arm medium-fast bowler. who has represented ODI, Test and T 20 matches bringing credit to the country. In April 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.The International Cricket Council (ICC) named Perera as the key player of Sri Lanka’s squad for the tournament.

Dinesh Chandimal on 26 September 2019, joined the Sri Lankan Army as a volunteer Commissioned Officer and has been eligible to play for Sri Lanka Army Sports Club. In August 2020, while playing for the Sri Lanka Army Sports Club, Chandimal made the highest total in domestic first-class cricket in Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 354 runs. A handy and agile right-handed batsman who sometimes plays as the wicket-keeper middle order batsman, Chandimal was the first captain to lead Sri Lanka in their first day-night Test match.

Chandimal made his Test debut for Sri Lanka in December 2011, in the second Test of the series against South Africa in Durban. He made half-centuries (58 and 54) in each of Sri Lanka’s innings becoming the first Sri Lankan batsman to score half centuries in both innings on Test debut. This incidentally led Sri Lanka to their first Test win in South Africa.

Major General Ruwan Wanigasooriya, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF), and Major General Chandana Marasinghe, Master General Ordnance (SLAOC Regiment) were also associated with the brief occasion.” (Source : Sri Lanka Army)

News

Strengthening Ties Through Sport: China Donates Five Dragon Boats to Sri Lanka

Published

2 hours ago

June 1, 2025

Editor

The People’s Republic of China has donated five dragon boats worth LKR 5 million to Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in promoting water sports across the island.

The donation was made during the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Dragon Boat Championship, organized by NACKSL – the National Association of Canoeing and Kayaking Sri Lanka, held on May 31 at the Diyawanna Rowing Center. The championship saw the participation of 25 teams from various regions of the country.

The event was graced by:

Minister of Youth and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamagedara
Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Eranga Gunasekara
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong

Trophies and certificates were awarded to the winning athletes, and the official handover of the dragon boats was completed at the same event.

A Symbol of Friendship and Cultural Exchange

Minister Gamagedara emphasized that the China-Sri Lanka Dragon Boat Championship, and the donation of dragon boats, symbolize the strong cultural, sporting, and diplomatic ties between the two nations. He extended his gratitude to the Chinese Embassy and stated that this generous gift would be instrumental in expanding and developing water sports across Sri Lanka.

“From North to South and East to West, we are committed to promoting water sports across the country,” said the Minister.

He further noted that this donation would help create pathways for Sri Lankan youth in canoeing, kayaking, and dragon boat racing, while also boosting sports tourism.

Celebrating Unity and National Inclusion

Special appreciation was extended to student participants from schools in Jaffna, highlighting the championship’s role in fostering national unity and showcasing the talent and commitment of young athletes from all regions.

The Deputy Minister also expressed hope that more youth with exceptional talent in water sports would be provided with sports scholarships in the future.

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Cricket

Kusal Mendis Falls Short in High-Stakes IPL Eliminator Clash

Published

20 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Editor

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis failed to rise to the occasion during a crucial IPL 2025 Eliminator as Gujarat Titans fell short in their chase against Mumbai Indians at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Chasing a steep target of 229, Gujarat Titans needed early momentum. While opener Sai Sudharsan led the charge with a composed 80 off 49 deliveries, Kusal Mendis—expected to play a key supporting role—could not live up to expectations on this competitive stage.

Mendis, who had the platform to make an impact, started aggressively with two sixes in his 10-ball 20 but threw away his wicket in an uncharacteristic manner—getting out hit wicket to Mitchell Santner. In a high-pressure match where composure was vital, Mendis’s dismissal was a major setback for GT, stalling their momentum during a promising phase of the innings.

This was an opportunity for Mendis to demonstrate consistency and reliability at the highest level of franchise cricket, especially with the eyes of selectors and fans fixed on performances under pressure. However, the lack of game awareness and a reckless approach led to a soft exit at a crucial moment.

GT eventually managed 208/6, falling short by 20 runs. With Mendis’s early exit, the middle order was left exposed to the mounting run rate, and despite brief resistance from Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia, the chase fizzled out.

While Mendis has shown flashes of brilliance in previous matches, this performance serves as a reminder of the demands of knockout-stage cricket. With playoffs being the toughest test of mental and technical strength, Sri Lanka’s white-ball star must tighten his game to deliver when it matters most.

News

Awareness Media Briefing on New Sports Regulations

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Editor

A special media briefing on the new regulations under the Sports Act was held on May 30, 2025, at the Department of Government Information, with the aim of raising public awareness on the upcoming changes to Sri Lanka’s sports governance framework.

The event featured key officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, including:

Sunil Kumara Gamagedara – Minister of Youth and Sports
Sugath Thilakaratne – Deputy Minister of Sports
Aruna Bandara – Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports
Shemal Fernando – Director General of Sports
Priyantha Ekanayake – Chairman, National Sports Council

These leaders addressed the media on the impact, scope, and enforcement of the new regulations, highlighting their importance in ensuring transparency, accountability, and modernization in Sri Lanka’s sports sector.