Commonwealth Games 2018: Sri Lanka contingent selected

By Shamseer Jaleel

A strong 80-member team was selected and approved by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera. Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has already written to the National Olympic Committee (NOC), in order to change a few players, due to injury worries. But they will need to wait until the organizing committee from the Gold Coast in Australia approves the required changes.

Weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage firmly favored to bring home a title at the XXI Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia, will lead the 80-member strong athletic contingent.

Vidanage won a gold medal in the 62kgs weightlifting event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and is the only current gold medal holder in the Sri Lankan athletic team. Vidanage also has a silver medal in weightlifting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games which took place in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, in swimming, Dilrukshi Perera from Hillwood College too looks rock solid, along with Akalanka Peiris of St Peter’s. The swimming team received prior training in Brisbane when they left the island on 14 March to receive training for the events.

Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games team

Swimming

Cherantha de Silva, Matthew Abeysinghe, Akalanka Peiris,  Kyle Abeysinghe, Vinoli Kaluarachchi, Dilrukshi Perera

Diving

Lakshini de Silva, Thejana Peiris

Team Manager: Chanaka Hasantha

Coaches: Julian Bolling and Buddi Abeysinghe (Swimming); Chanaka Duminda (Diving)

Athletics

Manjula Kumara, Sampath Ranasinghe, Suranjaya de Silva, Himasha Eshan, Shehan Ambepitiya, Lakshitha Wickremasinghe, Janaka Wimalasiri, W Nimali, Gayanthika Thushari, Dilhani Lekamge,  Hiruni Wijeratne, Rumeshika Rathnayaka

Team Manager: Nimalsiri Hewa Witanage

Coaches: Sunil Gunawardena, Miranda Ramirez Luis, Sajith Jayalal,  Kingsley Gunathilaka

 Badminton

Buwaneka Dullewa, Dinuka Karunaratne,  Niluka Karunaratne, Sachin Dias, Thilini Hendahewa, Kavidi Sirimannege, Hasini Ambalangodage, Madushika Dilrukshi

Team Manager: Duminda Gamage and Nishantha Aluthge

Coaches: Dhanesh Malliyawadu, Tony Wahyudi

 Beach Volleyball

Asanka Pradeep Kumara and Malintha Yapa

Coach: Mahesh Perera

 Boxing

Ranjeewa Bandara, Sandaruwan Ranasinghe, Dushan Saparamadu,  Anusha Dilrukshi, Dulani Jayasinghe, Hansika Kasturiarachchi

 Coach: Dian Gomes, Harsha Kumara and Aravinda Tissera

 Cycling

Avishka Dilnuwan and Sandun Kumara

Team Manager: Clement Ranasinghe

Coach: Upali Ratnayake

Gymnastics

Samanali Gunathilaka, Amaya Kalukottege, Kaushini Gunasinghe Gamage

Coach: Tharanga Welandage

Gymnastics

Anna-Marie Ondaatje

Coach: SvetLana Joukova

Medical Personnel: Monique Elia Petricone

Rugby Sevens

Sudharshana Muthuthantri (Capt), Danushka Dyan, Rehan Silva, Omalka Gunaratne, Jeson Dissanayaka, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Tharinda Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Anurudha Wilwara, Richard Dharmapala, Dhanushka Ranjan, Naveen Heenakankanmge

Stand by: Hirantha Perera, Reza Rafaideen,  Sudam Suriyarachchi,  Buddima Priyaratne

Director High Performance: Inthisham Marikar

Coach: Peter Woods

Trainer: Nicolas Groube

Shooting

Suranga Fernando, Upul Wijeratne, Sanduni Perera

Manager: Chinthaka Edirisinghe

Squash

Ravindu Laksiri, Mihiliya Methsarani

 Table Tennis

Udaya Ranasinghe, Rohan Sirisena, Nirmala Bandara Jayasingha,  Madurangi Dharshika, Hansani Kapugeekiyana, Erandi Warusawithana

Team Manager: Chathura Jayendra

Coach: Madushanka Wickremasinghe

Weightlifting

Chathuranga Lakmal, Thilanka Palangasinghe, Chathuranga Dissanayake, Chinthana Vidanage, Shanaka Peters, Saman Abeywickrama, Ushan Charuka, Hansani Gomes, Chamari Warnakulasuriya, Nadeeshani Rajapakshe, Priyanthi Balage

Team Manager: Thamel Warnakulasuriya

Head Coach: R Wickremasinghe

Assistant Coach: Navindhra Dayan

Masseur: Upul Jayathilaka

Wrestling

Divoshan Fernando, Chanaka Fernando, Dilhani Weerabahu

Team Manager: Prageeth Priyankara

Coach: Jagath Priyantha