News
”Giving Boost to Army Cricket, Thisara & Chandimal Adorned with ‘Major’ Insignia
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
Trinity College Storms to Victory Over Thurstan in Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 3
Colombo, June 19 – Trinity College, Kandy delivered a commanding performance to defeat Thurstan College, Colombo by 48-19 in a high-energy Week 3 clash of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, played at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Trinity dominated throughout the match, crossing the try line eight times and securing four conversions. Their relentless attack and solid defensive play left little room for Thurstan to recover.
🏆 Match Summary – Trinity 48 (8T, 4C) vs Thurstan 19 (3T, 2C)
- Trinity College Scorers:
🔹 8 Tries
🔹 4 Conversions - Thurstan College Scorers:
🔹 3 Tries
🔹 2 Conversions
The game showcased Trinity’s physical strength, quick ball movement, and tactical excellence. Even as Thurstan fought back with three well-earned tries, the gap was too wide to close.
News
Royal College Stays Undefeated with Convincing Win Over St. Joseph’s in Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 3
Colombo, June 19 – Royal College, Colombo extended their unbeaten run in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, defeating St. Joseph’s College, Maradana by 33-14 in a thrilling Week 3 encounter held at the Royal College Sports Complex.
Royal dominated both halves of the game, entering halftime with a 19-7 lead and continuing their momentum in the second half to seal a well-earned victory.
🏆 Match Summary – Royal 33 (5T, 4C) vs St. Joseph’s 14 (2T, 2C)
- Royal College Scorers:
🔹 5 Tries
🔹 4 Conversions - St. Joseph’s Scorers:
🔹 2 Tries
🔹 2 Conversions
The Royalists maintained control throughout the game with solid offensive and defensive phases, capitalizing on their physical dominance and tactical superiority. The win cements their position as one of the favourites in this year’s league, showcasing a balanced squad with depth and experience.
Matchday Atmosphere
A packed crowd at the Royal Sports Complex witnessed high-intensity school rugby action with passionate support for both sides. The game lived up to its billing with fast-paced attacking plays and fierce defensive stands.
Football
Mohamed Sahi Transfer Dispute Deepens: Two Clubs, Two Contracts – One Confusing Reality
Fresh details reveal dual agreements, silent acceptance, and a looming registration problem ahead of the Champions League
Colombo – June 17, 2025:
The player registration controversy surrounding Mohamed Sahi has intensified, as newly uncovered information confirms the existence of two separate agreements signed by the player — one with New Star SC and another with Crystal Palace FC Gampola, both for the 2025/26 season.
The Timeline of Conflict
- On January 15, 2025, Mohamed Sahi received a release from his former club Eravur YSS, stating that he would be joining Crystal Palace FC.
- This release letter was shared via WhatsApp with Crystal Palace, but the original document was handed over to New Star SC, who then registered the player for the 2025/26 season based on a contract signed on January 16 for LKR 85,000.
- Later in February, Sahi went on to sign another contract — this time with Crystal Palace FC, reportedly for LKR 215,000, including two advance payments: LKR 35,000 and LKR 45,000 to his father’s account.
This sequence raises serious concerns about whether the player fully understood his obligations or whether both clubs failed to clarify the status of the original registration.
Crystal Palace Questions: Silence from New Star
Despite publicly announcing the signing of Mohamed Sahi on social media in February, New Star SC remained silent. No objections were raised until the issue surfaced during I League scrutiny.
This inaction has sparked public questions:
- Why didn’t New Star respond immediately if the player was already under contract with them?
- Was there an oversight, or did they expect the issue to resolve quietly?
I League vs Champions League Impact
While the situation has had no direct impact on the I League, given that New Star SC registered the player first and the I League is an invitational tournament not governed by the FFSL, Sahi only featured under New Star during the competition. However, the matter gains greater significance in the lead-up to the Sri Lanka Champions League, where both New Star SC and Crystal Palace FC are reported to have submitted player registrations for Mohamed Sahi, potentially triggering a registration conflict.
This raises the risk of:
- Duplicate entries under the same player ID
- Last-minute disqualifications or disputes
- Administrative confusion for tournament organizers
A Potential Settlement?
In an attempt to ease tensions, sources close to New Star SC have confirmed that Mohamed Sahi is willing to return the advance payment made by Crystal Palace FC to resolve the financial element of the issue amicably.
Final Word
While this incident is unlikely to influence the I League outcome, it exposes a flaw in inter-club communication and registration coordination. With the Champions League approaching, resolving these overlaps is essential to avoid technical complications or eligibility issues.
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