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Who delayed the announcement of Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup squad?

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It was noticeable that many newspapers had reported that only the Sri Lankan squad was not announced until the last moment. On further investigation, it was reported that the Sri Lanka Selection Committee forwarded the 20-man squad for the approval of the Sports Minister on August 12. But until yesterday (19) it had not received approval.

However, last night (19) at 9.51 on his Twitter account, the Minister of Sports stated that the relevant news was not correct and that he was referred to him for the approval of the squad yesterday (19). It was further stated in the Twitter message that approval was given within an hour of receiving the named squad.

Last night (19) 9.54 making another note, the minister announced the official squad for this year’s Asian Cup breaking the tradition.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket issued a statement in response to the minister’s announcement. The letter states that the Sri Lanka selection committee met on August 10 and named the squad for the Asian Cup and on August 12, the squad was sent to the Minister of Sports. The announcement further states that the letter indicating that Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madhushan were called up to the squad due to the injuries of two players in the named squad was arranged to be given to the minister on August 16.

Meanwhile, in an announcement on the afternoon of August 20, the Ministry of Sports said that the Sri Lanka Cricket Board was delayed in giving the approval for the squad due to the fact that the documents to be provided along with the player pool were not properly provided.

Under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lanka squad for the Asia Cup consists of 08 batsmen, 05 fast bowlers, 03 spinners and 04 all-rounders.

ආසියානු කුසලාන ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංචිතය ප්‍රකාශයට පත් කිරීම ප්‍රමාද කරණු ලැබුවේ කවුරුන්ද?

ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංචිතය පමණක් අවසන් මොහොත දක්වාම ප්‍රකාශයට පත් නොකිරීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් පුවත්පත් රැසක්ම වාර්ථා කර තිබීම කැපී පෙනෙන්නට විය. මේ පිළිබද වැඩි දුරටත් සෙවීමේදී වාර්ථා වූයේ ශ්‍රී ලංකා තේරීම් කමිටුව 20 දෙදෙනෙකුගෙන් යුත් සංචිතය අගෝස්තු මස 12 වැනිදා ක්‍රීඩා අමාත්‍යවරයාගේ අනුමැතිය සදහා යොමුකර ඇති බවයි. නමුත් ඊයේ (19) වන තෙක් එයට අණුමැතිය නොලැබී තිබූ බවයි.

කෙසේ වෙතත් ඊයේ (19) රාත්‍රියේ 9.51 සිය Twitter ගිණුමේ සටහනක් තබමින් ක්‍රීඩා අමාත්‍යවරයා, අදාල පුවත් නිවැරදි නොවන බවත් සංචිතයේ අනුමැතිය සදහා තමා වෙත යොමු කලේ ඊයේ (19) දින බවත් ප්‍රකාශකර තිබුණා. නම් කල සංචිතය ලැබී පැයක් ඇතුළත ඊට අනුමැතිය ලබා දුන් බවත් Twitter පණිවිඩයේ වැඩි දුරටත් සදහන් විය.

ඊයේ රාත්‍රියේ (19) 9.54 තවත් සටහනක් තබමින් අමාත්‍යවරයා මෙවර ආසියානු කුසලානයට එක්වන නිළ සංචිතය නිවේදනය කලේ සම්ප්‍රදායද බිද දමමින්ය.

කෙසේ වෙතත් ක්‍රිකට් ආයතනය විසින් අමාත්‍යවරයාගේ නිවේදනයට ප්‍රතිචාර දක්වමින් මෙලෙස නිවේදනයක් නිකුත් කරණු ලැබීය. එම ලිපියේ දැක්වෙන්නේ ශ්‍රී ලංකා තේරීම් කමිටුව අගෝස්තු මස 10 දින රැස්වී ආසියානු කුසලානය සදහා වන සංචිතය නම් කළ බවත් අගෝස්තු 12 වැනිදා එම සංචිතය ක්‍රීඩා අමාත්‍යවරයාගේ අණුමැතිය සදහා යොමු කළ බවයි. තවද නිවේදනයේ වැඩි දුරටත් සදහන් වන්නේ නම් කළ සංචිතයේ ක්‍රීඩකයන් දෙදෙනෙකු අබාධ වලට ලක්වීම නිසා අසිත ප්‍රනාන්දු හා ප්‍රමෝද් මධුෂාන් සංචිතයට කැදවූ බවත් දැක්වෙන ලිපිය අගෝස්තු 16 වැනිදා අමාත්‍යවරයාට ලබාදීමට කටයුතු කළ බවයි.

මේ අතර අගෝස්තු මස 20 වැනිදා පස්වරුවේ නිවේදනයක් නිකුත් කරමින් ක්‍රීඩා අමාත්‍යංශය පැවසුවේ ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රිකට් ආයතනය ක්‍රීඩක සංචියත් සමග ලබාදිය යුතු ලිපිගොණු හරියාකාරව ලබානොදීම නිසා සංචිතය සදහා අනුමැතිය ලබාදීමට ප්‍රමාද වූ බවයි.

දසුන් ශානකගේ නායකත්වයෙන් ආසියානු කුසලානයට එක්වන ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංචිතය පිතිකරුවන් 08ක්, වේග පන්දු යවන්නන් 05ක්, දග පන්දු යවන්නන් 03 දෙනෙකු හා තුන් ඉරියව් ක්‍රීඩකයින් 04 දෙනෙකුගෙන් සමන්විතය.

ஆசியக் கோப்பைக்கான இலங்கை அணி அறிவிப்பை தாமதப்படுத்தியது யார்?

கடைசி நிமிடம் வரை இலங்கை அணி மட்டும் அறிவிக்கப்படவில்லை என்று பல பத்திரிகைகள் செய்தி வெளியிட்டிருந்ததை கவனிக்க முடிந்தது. மேலதிக விசாரணையில், இலங்கைத் தெரிவுக்குழு 20 பேர் கொண்ட அணியை விளையாட்டு அமைச்சரின் ஒப்புதலுக்கு ஆகஸ்ட் 12 ஆம் திகதி அனுப்பியுள்ளதாக தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஆனால் நேற்று (19) வரை அதற்கு உத்தரவு கிடைக்கவில்லை.

எவ்வாறாயினும் நேற்று (19) இரவு 9.51 மணியளவில் விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சர் தனது டுவிட்டர் கணக்கில், இது தொடர்பான செய்திகள் சரியானதல்ல எனவும், நேற்று (19) குழாமின் ஒப்புதலுக்காக தம்மிடம் பரிந்துரைக்கப்பட்டதாகவும் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். பெயரிடப்பட்ட அணி கிடைத்த ஒரு மணி நேரத்தில் ஒப்புதல் வழங்கப்பட்டதாக ட்விட்டர் செய்தியில் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நேற்றிரவு (19) 9.54 க்கு மற்றுமொரு குறிப்பை முன்வைத்து, பாரம்பரியத்தை உடைத்து இந்த ஆண்டுக்கான ஆசிய கோப்பைக்கான உத்தியோகபூர்வ அணியை அமைச்சர் அறிவித்தார்.

எனினும் அமைச்சரின் இந்த அறிவிப்புக்கு பதிலளிக்கும் வகையில் கிரிக்கெட் நிறுவனம் அறிக்கை ஒன்றை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. இலங்கைத் தெரிவுக்குழு ஆகஸ்ட் 10ஆம் திகதி கூடி ஆசியக் கிண்ணத்திற்கான அணியை அறிவித்ததாகவும், ஆகஸ்ட் 12ஆம் திகதி அந்த அணி விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சருக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டதாகவும் அந்தக் கடிதத்தில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. பெயரிடப்பட்ட அணியில் இரு வீரர்கள் காயமடைந்ததன் காரணமாக அசித பெர்னாண்டோ மற்றும் பிரமோத் மதுஷன் ஆகியோர் அணிக்கு அழைக்கப்பட்டதை சுட்டிக்காட்டும் கடிதம் ஆகஸ்ட் 16 ஆம் திகதி அமைச்சரிடம் வழங்குவதற்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதாக அந்த அறிவிப்பில் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதற்கிடையில், ஆகஸ்ட் 20 ஆம் தேதி பிற்பகல் வெளியிட்ட அறிவிப்பில், வீரர் குழுவுடன் வழங்க வேண்டிய ஆவணங்கள் சரியாக இல்லாததால், இலங்கை கிரிக்கெட் வாரியம் அணிக்கான அனுமதியை வழங்குவதில் தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டதாக விளையாட்டு அமைச்சகம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது. வழங்கப்படும்.

தசுன் ஷனக்கவின் தலைமையில் ஆசியக் கிண்ணத்திற்கான இலங்கை அணியில் 08 துடுப்பாட்ட வீரர்கள், 05 வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர்கள், 03 சுழற்பந்து வீச்சாளர்கள் மற்றும் 04 சகலதுறை ஆட்டக்காரர்கள் உள்ளனர்.

Football

Sri Lanka U20 Women’s Football Hits Rock Bottom at SAFF Championship Amid Continued National-Level Crisis

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The Sri Lanka U20 Women’s Team endured a disappointing campaign at the SAFF U20 Women’s Championship 2025, suffering two heavy defeats with one group match left to play. In their opening encounter, Sri Lanka was thrashed 9 -1 by Bangladesh, followed by a 5-0 loss against Bhutan, indicating a deeper crisis in the country’s women’s football structure.

These back-to-back losses highlight the grim state of the women’s football program, especially when placed alongside the senior team’s exit from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers earlier this year without a single win. This trend reflects not just a lack of preparation, but an institutional failure to establish a developmental pipeline or strategic plan.

What’s even more concerning is the absence of visible recovery mechanisms from the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL). Instead of addressing systemic issues—such as lack of coaching standards, insufficient grassroots investment, and poor player welfare—key decision-makers appear more focused on the upcoming FFSL elections. Behind-the-scenes politics continue to stall any meaningful progress in women’s football development.

Despite the promising young talent in Sri Lanka, the gap in fitness, tactical training, and match readiness compared to regional rivals is growing wider. Without immediate technical reforms and leadership that prioritizes performance over politics, the future of women’s football in the country remains uncertain.

With one more match against a strong Nepal side, the prospects of a comeback look bleak, unless there is a radical shift in how the game is managed from the ground up.

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South Asian Karate Championship 2025: India and Sri Lanka Shine as Karate Celebrates 50 Years in Sri Lanka

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Colombo, July 5–6, 2025 – The 9th South Asian Karate Championship and the 1st South Asian Youth Karate Championship successfully concluded at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, marking a landmark moment in Sri Lanka’s martial arts history as the nation celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Karate Federation.

This prestigious two-day event was jointly organized by the South Asian Karate Federation and the Sri Lanka Karate Federation, which is registered under the Ministry of Sports as one of the seven official sports federations in the country.

Day 1 (July 5) – Youth Championship Dominated by India and Sri Lanka

The opening day featured intense youth-level competition with over 700 athletes from seven South Asian nationsSri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives – competing in age categories below 14.

🥇 Youth Medal Standings (U-14 Category):

  • India – 22 Medals (1st Place)
  • Nepal – 20 Medals (2nd Place)
  • Sri Lanka – 10 Medals (3rd Place)

📺 Watch Day 1 Highlights:

Final Day (July 6) – Sri Lanka Takes Youth Title, India Clinches Senior Crown

The second day of the tournament featured both senior and youth finals. In a historic achievement, Sri Lanka emerged champions in the Youth Division, while India secured the Senior Team Championship, continuing their regional dominance.

Final Team Standings:

  • Senior Category:
    • 🥇 India (Champions)
    • 🥈 Nepal (Runners-up)
    • 🥉 Sri Lanka (Third Place)
  • Youth Category:
    • 🥇 Sri Lanka (Champions)
    • 🥈 India (Runners-up)
    • 🥉 Nepal (Third Place)

Watch Final Day Highlights:

Special Guests & Recognition

The event was graced by His Excellency Akio Isomata, the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, who attended as the Chief Guest, acknowledging Sri Lanka’s long-standing contribution to the growth of karate in South Asia.

Also present was Bharat Sharma, President of the South Asian Karate Federation, who praised the standard of competition and Sri Lanka’s organizing excellence.

Karate in Sri Lanka – 50 Years of Legacy

This championship coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Karate Federation, which has played a vital role in shaping karate talent nationally and internationally. With continued support from the Ministry of Sports, karate remains one of Sri Lanka’s fastest-growing combat sports.

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Football

Sri Lanka Women Finish Qualifiers with 0 Goals, 20 Conceded – Who Will Take Responsibility?

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Colombo, July 3 – Sri Lanka Women’s National Football Team wrapped up their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a third straight defeat — a 2-0 loss to Laos — confirming their position at the bottom of Group F, with 0 wins, 0 goals scored, and 18 conceded in just three games.

But beyond the scorelines lies a far more serious issue: a complete collapse of women’s football development in Sri Lanka. And this time, the blame does not lie on one individual — but on a system that has failed the sport, from top to bottom.

Match-by-Match Recap

Match 1: Sri Lanka 0 – 10 Uzbekistan

  • Possession: 30%
  • Shots on Target: 0
  • xG: 0.0 vs Uzbekistan’s 3.60
  • A game that exposed a lack of preparation, structure, and fitness from the very start.

Match 2: Sri Lanka 0 – 8 Nepal

  • Possession: 50%
  • Defensive errors gifted goals, including a hat-trick by Sabitra Bhandari.
  • xG: Nepal 3.76 vs Sri Lanka 0.60
  • Tactical breakdown: Midfield collapsed under pressure, backline failed to close space.

Match 3: Sri Lanka 0 – 2 Laos

  • Possession: 50%
  • Shots on Target: 5
  • xG: 2.56 (Laos) vs 1.08 (Sri Lanka)
  • A more balanced performance, but defensive lapses in the 73rd and 90+2 minutes led to defeat. Sri Lanka couldn’t convert chances despite their best game statistically.

Final Group Standings – Group F

TeamMPGFGAGDPoints
🇳🇵 Nepal2170+176
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan2170+176
🇱🇦 Laos2216-140
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka3020-200

Tactical Issues Across All Matches

  • No clear formation or transition play.
  • Lack of defensive coordination — players failed to track runners, especially on the flanks.
  • No attacking identity — only 1.08 xG across three games.
  • In-game management absent — few substitutions or tactical shifts despite being outplayed.

While public criticism often targets the President of the Football Federation, this decline in women’s football runs deeper:

Who Is Accountable? Not Just the President

Women’s Football Committee:

  • Failed to organize any domestic tournament in recent years.
  • Selected the squad via open trials, with no league performance data to back selections.
  • No consistent training camps or fitness programs.

Executive Committee:

  • Remains silent on the recurring failures.
  • No inquiries, reviews, or structural reforms have followed Sri Lanka’s repeated humiliations — including the U20 Women’s SAFF defeat earlier this year.

Technical & Development Staff:

  • No tactical framework or youth development.
  • No modern coaching methods or international exposure for players.

The Bigger Problem: Silence and Stagnation

Sri Lanka is not just losing matches — it’s losing direction. The current state of women’s football is not the result of one bad campaign. It’s the product of years of neglect, political appointments, and a failure to treat women’s football with equal priority.

Even now, there is no explanation from the Executive Committee on how the women’s team was prepared or what plans exist for recovery.

Time for a Reset, Not Excuses

If Sri Lanka is serious about competing in international football, the following must be addressed:

  • ✅ A national women’s league
  • ✅ Provincial and school-level competitions
  • ✅ Professional coaching staff and structured fitness programs
  • ✅ Regular international friendlies and camps
  • ✅ Transparent selection processes based on performance, not politics

🔚 Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s 2026 AFC campaign should not just be remembered for the scorelines — but as a call for change. It is time for every stakeholder — from the Women’s Committee to the Executive — to reflect, respond, and rebuild.

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