News
Sri Lanka Schools Football Association’s Under 16 All Island Inter-School
M.H.Yakeem
IDM CAMPUS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2023
IDM Campus has come forward to give a big hand by sponsoring the under-all Island Boys/ Girls soccer tournament for the year 2023, with the collaboration of the Sri-Lanka Schools Football Association and the Ministry of Education. A large gathering of teachers in charge of their respective Schools, Coaches, Players, and Media personnel from various institutions were present, at the press conference, which was held at the IDM Campus auditorium, Dehiwela yesterday.
More than 500 Boys schools and 100 plus Girls Schools will be participating in this year’s tournament, which has already commenced from the district level. 64 Boys Schools and 40 Girls Schools will be selected for the final round matches, which is scheduled to take place in the 1st week of October in Colombo.
N.S.B Dissanayake, General Secretary of the Sri-Lanka Schools Football Association, speaking at this press conference, thanked the Chairman of the IDM Campus, Manimaram Maheswaran, Managing Director, Amandi Kulasinghe, and the officials of the Institute with a token of appreciation at a time of need to boost the development of Soccer in the Country, as this youngsters could showcase their hidden talents.
IDM Campus which was established in 1974, came forward to sponsor this tournament, with the intention of their 50th anniversary, which falls next year. This will also give an opportunity to these youngsters to speak to them about their future education path, where IDM Campus, could guide these youngsters, with experience gained in this field of higher education, to become professional people, with the challenges faced.
Caption
Amandi Kulasinghe, Managing Director of IDM Campus, handing over the Trophy to the President of the Sri-Lanka Schools Football Association, U.S.A. Bandara Leelarathna at the media conference, with officials from the IDM Campus and the Sri-Lanka Schools Football Association looking on.

Cricket
Tragedy Halts 66th Battle of the Babes in Kandy
The 66th edition of the “Battle of the Babes” big match between St. Sylvester’s College and Vidyartha College was abruptly called off on Wednesday after a tragic road accident claimed the lives of two St. Sylvester’s students.
The incident occurred as the students were on their way to witness the much-anticipated encounter at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. According to police, the motorcycle they were travelling on collided head-on with a bus.
One of the victims, Sachith Karunaratne, died at the scene. The other student, Nethula Nimdinu, was rushed to the Kandy National Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
The shocking news cast a shadow over the annual fixture, prompting authorities to take swift action. Central Province Governor Sarath Abeykoon reportedly suggested halting the match, after which the principals of both schools jointly agreed to call off the game midway.

St. Sylvester’s College confirmed the untimely deaths, paying tribute to the two students as committed and valued members of their school community.
Meanwhile, Kandy Police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.
Cricket
Sri Lanka Women’s U19 Squad Named for Australia Tri-Series Tour
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a 15-member Women’s Under-19 squad for the upcoming Tri-Series tour of Australia, which will also feature England. The tour is set to provide valuable international exposure for the young Sri Lankan side as they prepare to face two strong cricketing nations in both One Day and T20 formats.

The team, led by captain Chamodi Praboda of Pagnagnanda MV, Monaragala, includes a promising mix of talent drawn from leading schools across the island. Several players from Devapathiraja College, Rathgama including Sanjana Kavindi, Nethagi Isuranjali, and Shashini Gimhani have earned selections, reflecting the school’s continued contribution to women’s cricket development.
Other notable inclusions are Vimoksha Balasuriya from Sinhala MV, Trincomalee, Umayangana Peiris of Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa, and Nethmi Upeksha from Maliyadeva Balika, Kurunegala. The squad also features players such as Aseni Thalagune (Mahamaya Girls School, Kandy), Chamodi Herath (Anura College, Matara), and Daria Dissanayake of Ladies College, Colombo, showcasing a diverse representation of emerging talent.

The team will play a total of six matches during the tour, including two One Day Internationals and four T20 games, scheduled on April 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, and 18. The squad is set to depart for Australia on April 3, 2026.

This tour is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket, offering these young players a platform to gain crucial international experience.
Cricket
Sri Lanka Cricket Appoints New National Coaches for High Performance Centre
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced two key appointments to its National High Performance Centre as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s coaching structure across all formats and levels.
Former Netherlands coach Ryan van Niekerk has been named the National Bowling Coach, while Jordan Gregory will take on the role of National Fielding and Spin Bowling Coach. Both appointments will come into effect from April 15, 2026, with each coach set to serve a two-year tenure.
In his new role, van Niekerk will oversee fast bowling development across all national teams, including the senior men’s side. He brings valuable international experience, having served as the bowling coach and interim head coach of the Netherlands national team from 2023 to 2026. Prior to that, he worked as the assistant coach and bowling coach of the Netherlands men’s team.
During his time with the Dutch side, van Niekerk played a role in their participation in major global tournaments, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026.
Meanwhile, Gregory will be responsible for managing fielding standards and spin bowling development across all national squads. He previously worked as a fielding consultant with Netherlands Cricket and contributed to several international assignments, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2023.
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