News
Janith Liyanage the saviour for Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe tour of Sri Lanka 2024
Janith Liyanage notched up his maiden half century to guide Sri Lanka to a nerve tingling 2 wickets win over Zimbabwe in the second One dayer worked off at R. Premadasa Stadium Colombo on Monday.
Having won the toss, Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine elected to bat first under gloomy conditions in Colombo.
However, it was the hosts who got off to a flyer when Dilshan Madushanka gave the early breakthrough when Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (00) were caught behind in the third ball of the innings.
Despite a early setback, Wicket-keeper batter Joylord Gumble was joined by skipper Craig Ervine and the duo stitched a 60-run stand to get their team out of trouble, before Maheesh Theekshana castled Gumble after scoring 30 runs off 36 balls.
After the breakthrough Milton Shumba joined skipper Craig and the duo cautiously batted until the 25th over engaging in another 50 runs stand.
However Sri Lanka were rewarded with the wicket of Shumba who walked back to the pavilion for 26 runs.
To make things worse for the boys in Red, they were stuck with another quick wicket that of their star batter Sikandar Raza who departed for just 1 run.
At one stage Zimbabwe were on course for a strong total but a middle order collapse saw
the visitors slipped to 182/5 when their mainstay Craig Ervine also walked back for a well played 82 runs.
With half of their batters back in the pavilion the Zimbabwe lower order fell like a pack of cards as they lost their last 6 wickets for just 26 runs before being all out for below par score of 208 runs.
Maheesh Theekshana who didnt have a good outing in the last year World Cup in India was back among wickets when he ended with figures of 4-31.
In reply, Sri Lanka batters once again failed to impress as none of their star batters were among runs apart from Janith Liyanage who played a lone cameo of 95 runs to drag thier team over the line.
When the chips were down with scoreboard reading at 6-112 Maheesh Theekshana joined Janith Liyanage in the middle to rescue Sri Lanka from a humiliating defeat. The duo added a 56-run stand for the 7th wicket.
With another less than 40 runs required Sri Lanka were stuck with few quick wickets including the all important wicket of Janith Liayange’s when the 28 year old attempted a lofted shot over mid-off but ended straight at the hands of Ricard Ngarava.
The equation being more tougher to the host, with all the recognized batters back in the pavilion Dusmantha Chameera (18) and Jeffery Vandery (19) launch a late strike as the duo took Sri Lanka home with 6 balls to spare.
In bowling front Richard Ngarava picked up his maiden ODI fifer while Sikandar Raza picked two wickets.
After the thrilling win Sri Lanka are currently leading the three match Series 1-0 with one more game left to play. The two sides will
Meet again on Thursday (11) for the final game and move to shorter format of the game (T20I’s) starting from 14th January.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 208 in 44.4 overs (Craig Ervine 82; Maheesh Theekshana 4-31) lost to Sri Lanka 211/8 in 49 overs (Janith Liyanage 95; Richard Ngarava 5-32) by two wickets.
Football
Uzbekistan Dominate Sri Lanka 10-0 in AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers
Colombo, June 29 – The Sri Lanka Women’s National Football Team suffered a crushing 10-0 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan in their opening fixture of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, exposing not only the performance gap on the field but also the deep-rooted structural failures off it.

From kickoff, Uzbekistan showcased their superiority with relentless attacking football, scoring five goals in each half. The match statistics tell a story of complete dominance:
- Shots on Target: 14 (Uzbekistan) vs 0 (Sri Lanka)
- Possession: 70% (Uzbekistan) vs 30% (Sri Lanka)
- Dangerous Attacks: 137 (Uzbekistan) vs 28 (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka managed only two shots in the entire match—none of which tested the opposition goalkeeper—while spending most of the game pinned back in defense.

However, beyond the scoreboard, this defeat highlights a more alarming truth: the lack of commitment to women’s football by local authorities. The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has failed to organize a single women’s tournament domestically in recent years, and the squad selected for this major continental qualifier was chosen solely through a limited trial. There was no competitive platform or league for players to develop or prove themselves ahead of international duty.
This performance is not just a reflection of the players’ inexperience—it’s a direct consequence of administrative negligence. FFSL must take full responsibility for this embarrassing result, as it continues to send underprepared teams to international tournaments merely to safeguard its position, rather than genuinely investing in the development of Sri Lankan football.
Even more concerning is the silence from the Ministry of Sports. Despite the humiliating performances of the Under-20 team in the recent SAFF Championship and now the senior women’s team in the AFC qualifiers, no action has been taken, and no accountability has been demanded. The ministry’s indifference to these repeated failures raises serious questions about its role in ensuring sports governance and development in Sri Lanka.
As Sri Lankan football continues to struggle, it is clear that without structural change, genuine investment, and accountability, results like these will only continue.
News
Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 4: Powerhouses Dominate as Rivalries Intensify
The fourth week of the 2025 Dialog Schools Rugby League brought high-octane action across Colombo and Kandy, as traditional rugby giants asserted dominance while title ambitions sharpened. Here’s a round-up of the top matches that defined the week:
Trinity Outmuscles St. Joseph’s at CR & FC
Trinity College, Kandy, continued their unbeaten streak with a commanding 29-07 win over St. Joseph’s College, Maradana at the CR & FC grounds in Colombo. Trinity crossed the whitewash five times with 5 tries and 2 conversions, displaying explosive forward play and well-structured phases.
St. Joseph’s struggled to match Trinity’s physicality but managed a consolation try and conversion. At halftime, Trinity led 22-0, setting the tone early and maintaining control throughout.
Wesley Tames St. Peter’s in Tight Clash
At Havelock Park, Wesley College recorded a gritty 23-05 victory over St. Peter’s College. The Wesleyites scored 3 tries, 1 conversion, and added 2 penalties, proving their clinical edge under pressure.
St. Peter’s could only respond with a single try and failed to find rhythm. Wesley led 8-0 at the break and controlled territory effectively in the second half.
Isipathana Outguns Zahira in a High-Scoring Thriller
In one of the most entertaining matches of the weekend, Isipathana College edged out Zahira College 38-27 at Zahira Grounds. Isipathana scored 6 tries and 4 conversions, showcasing pace and creativity in attack.
Zahira fought back gallantly with 4 tries, 2 conversions, and a penalty, pushing the defending champions to the limit. At halftime, Isipathana led 26-8, and though Zahira launched a strong second-half rally, the Green Machine held on.
Royal Routs Vidyartha in Dominant Display
Royal College, Colombo, was at their clinical best as they overcame Vidyartha College, Kandy, 29-07 at the Royal Complex. The home side dotted down 5 tries and 2 conversions, demonstrating power rugby and slick handling.
Vidyartha managed a single converted try but struggled to contain Royal’s powerful forwards and rolling mauls. Royal led 12-7 at halftime before pulling away in the second half.
Looking Ahead
With teams like Trinity, Isipathana, and Royal continuing to impress, the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 is shaping up for a thrilling finish. Fans can expect tighter games and fierce battles as title dreams grow stronger.
Stay tuned with Sri Lankan Sports TV for full match reports, results, and exclusive school rugby coverage!
Athletics
Sri Lanka Shines at Thailand Open 2025 with 11-Medal Haul
The Sri Lankan athletics team wrapped up a remarkable campaign at the Thailand Open Athletics Championship 2025, securing an impressive 11 medals, including 6 golds, during the competition held from June 21 to 25 in Bangkok.
The Sri Lankan squad, made up of eight athletes—four men and four women—delivered standout performances across track and field events, making the nation proud on the international stage.
Leading the charge was Rusiru Chathuranga, who clinched double gold in the Men’s 800m and 1500m events. Vicknaraj Vakshan added to the tally with a gold in the 5000m and a silver in the 1500m, while W.K.L.A. Nimali matched that feat by claiming gold in the Women’s 800m and silver in the 1500m.
Madushani Herath showed her dominance in the field events, capturing gold in both the long jump and triple jump. Ayomal Akalanka earned silver in the Men’s 400m hurdles, and Wathsala Hapuarachchi took silver in the Women’s 100m hurdles. Safreen Ahmed contributed a bronze medal in the Men’s triple jump.
While seven out of eight athletes reached the podium, Amasha de Silva narrowly missed out, finishing fourth in the Women’s 100m final, showcasing a commendable performance.
The full team is expected to return to Sri Lanka today after a tour that highlights the depth of talent in local athletics and signals strong potential ahead of upcoming regional events
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