News
Panadura Balika under 14 Hockey team bags” Silver Star” award.

M.H.Yakeem
Panadura Balika under 14 Hockey team was awarded a ” Silver Star ” by emerging as the runner-up in group ” C ” at the Girls under 14 all Island Hockey Tournament 2023, organised and conducted by the Sri-Lanka Schools Hockey Association, under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Education, played at the University of Peradeniya ground last week.
36 teams are participating in the under 14 Girls all Island tournament 2023, which has been divided into 7 groups, Panadura Balika is competing in group ” C ” along with Girls High School Kandy, Yasodhara Vidyalaya Colombo, Vijitha College Galle and Rangiri Dambulla, won 2 matches, drew 1 and lost 1 to emerge as the runner up in their respective group.
In the matches played, they beat Vijitha College Galle by 1 goal to nil, Yasodhara Vidyalaya Colombo by 2 goals to nil, drew with Girls High School Kandy nil all and lost to Rangiri Dambulla by 1 goal to nil.
A Keen interest taken by Principal Suranthi Gunawardena to develop Hockey in School along with Assistant Principals Janith Rodrigo, Kaushal Thisera, Nilushika Perera, MIC Surangi Perera and the guidance from Coach Rangika Prasad, made the path for these lasses to come up to this standard in a short time of period.
Caption
From the left side of the first row
Shashiprabha Sathsarani, Umalya Dahamdee, Lizni Attanayake, Jananga Lonethmi, Risini Piyara, Nishadi Linara, Senodhya Dahamlee.
From the left side of the middle row
Lisandi Upethma ( V. Capt.), Rangika Prasad
( Coach ), Janitha Rodrigo ( Asst. Principal ), Suranthi Gunawardena ( Principal ), Kaushal Thisera ( Asst. Principal ), Nilushika Perera
( Asst. Principal ), Surangi Perera ( MIC ), Mithumya De Mel ( Captain ).
From the left side of the back row
Heladhi Chadupama, Thanugi Nethulima, Kusalya Sithlini, Methuli Liyansa, Nuwani Sanchitha, Nethuli Disalya, Sethumlee Kinara, Chanthuli Nuhansa, Shakeera Singani, Chithuli Dinara, Chenuli Lehansa.
Football
Stafford vs. Colombo International: The Second Edition of the Big Match Kicks Off!
Football fever returns as Stafford International School and Colombo International School gear up for the second edition of their highly anticipated Big Match! This year, the rivalry intensifies with four matches across different age and gender categories:
✅ U15 Girls
✅ U15 Boys
✅ U20 Girls
✅ U20 Boys
🏆 Stafford International’s Rising Stars:
- U15 Girls: Defending TISSL U14 and Colombo SLSFA District champions, featuring standout players like Keshalee Ranatunga and Sonja Ratanayake (just 10 years old!).
- U15 Boys: All-Island U14 runners-up out of 462 schools, led by goalkeeper Yash Amarasekara, who was named Best U14 GK in Sri Lanka.
- U20 Girls & Boys: Both teams finished as TISSL runners-up, boasting stars like Raya Rikaz, Yumna Safraz, Adnaan Ameen, and Nidurshan Mohan.
🏆 Colombo International’s Key Players:
- U15 Girls: TISSL U16 runners-up, featuring top defender Khadeeja Niyas and striker Ozra.
- U20 Girls: TISSL U20 runners-up, with Fioni Dedhia named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
- U20 Boys: Defending Big Match champions, looking to retain their title behind stars like Krishwen and Habib.
👀 Who will come out on top this time? Watch the action LIVE at the link below! 🎥👇
#BigMatch2025 #SchoolFootball #SriLankaFootball #StaffordVsCIS #RivalryRenewed
Cricket
Shammi Silva Re-Elected as Sri Lanka Cricket President for Fourth Consecutive Term
Shammi Silva has been re-elected as the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president for the 2025-27 term, marking his fourth consecutive tenure at the helm of the nation’s cricket governing body. Silva secured the position uncontested at the 64th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Colombo on Monday.
A Controversial Yet Dominant Tenure
Silva’s leadership has not been without controversy. His previous term saw a high-profile clash with former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in 2023, which led to an interim committee being appointed after Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the ICC ODI World Cup. This move resulted in ICC suspending SLC, which led to Sri Lanka losing the hosting rights for the U19 Men’s World Cup, which was later held in South Africa.
Despite these setbacks, Silva regained control after a court ruling reinstated his administration, and he was later appointed as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in December 2023, replacing Jay Shah.
Challenges & Future Outlook
Sri Lanka Cricket has long been seen as a powerful and influential body, with internal politics often shaping its leadership. With financial mismanagement concerns highlighted in the Auditor General’s report, Silva’s administration faces the challenge of restoring credibility and ensuring better governance.
With the ICC ban lifted, Sri Lanka looks to rebuild its cricketing structure and improve performance on the international stage. The focus now shifts to upcoming bilateral series, the Asia Cup, and preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Stay tuned for more updates on Sri Lanka Cricket and the latest in the world of sports!
Cricket
Stephen Fleming Defends MS Dhoni’s Batting Position Amid Criticism
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has defended MS Dhoni’s late entry in the batting order, stating that the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman cannot play an extended innings at full intensity due to lingering knee concerns.
The 43-year-old Dhoni faced criticism after coming in at No. 9 during CSK’s 50-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chepauk. In the next match against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, 2025, he batted at No. 7 when CSK required 54 off 25 balls but managed just 16 off 11 as his team fell short by six runs.
Fleming’s Explanation on Dhoni’s Role
Fleming emphasized that Dhoni carefully assesses the match situation before deciding when to bat.
“It’s all about timing. MS judges his body and situation. His knees aren’t what they used to be, so he can’t bat for 10 overs at full intensity. He will step in based on the game’s demands,” Fleming explained at the post-match press conference.
The CSK coach reiterated that Dhoni remains too valuable to the team for his leadership and wicketkeeping and that sending him in too early could be a strategic misstep.
“From around the 13th or 14th over, he assesses the situation and decides. He trusts other batters early on but steps up when needed.”
CSK’s Struggles in the Powerplay Cost Them the Match
Fleming also pinpointed CSK’s poor powerplay performance as a key reason for their loss against Rajasthan Royals. While RR blasted 79/1 in the powerplay, CSK only managed 42/1,
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