CR & FC’s dynamic #8 Omalka Gunarathane will provide leadership to the Sri Lanka President’s XV as the team is set to leave for Malaysia this evening.
It was former national skipper Roshan Weeraratne who was supposed to lead the side for the two-match tour but the 29-year-old withdrew from the tour yesterday, citing personal reasons.
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The team which was picked following the Colombo v Outstation origins clash last month was later shortlisted to 32 members. The team which Omalka Gunarathane will lead will play the Malaysian Barbarians on the 2nd and the Malaysia National side on the 4th.
Coach Matt Lee believes that this opportunity the team has received to play two games in Malaysia will be good prep for the Asia Division I Rugby Championships on the 29th.
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Sri Lanka have brought in three scrumhalf options with the absence of Weeraratne in the lineup. Former national represents, Rahul De Silva and Mithun Hapugoda are likely options along with Nuwan Perera of Air Force.
In the forwards, the absence of Dushmantha Priyadarshana will be filled by Jason Melder and Sathya Ranathunga who are returning in national colours.
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Captain Gunarathane who is expected to wear the number 8 jersey will have the likes of Nivanka Prasad of CH & FC and Tharindu Chathuranga of Kandy by his side.
Deputy skipper Kavindu Perera who makes his way in to the national jersey will have huge responsibility with him playing at outside centre. Up and coming sensation Dinuk Amerasinghe will make a start in the President’s XV playing at inside centre.
The 32-member playing squad is as follows:
Forwards – Yakoob Ali (Kandy SC), Tharindu Chathuranga (Kandy SC), Kasun De Silva (Navy SC), Prasath Madusanka (CH & FC), Azmeer Fajudeen (Havelock SC), Charles Praveen (Air Force), Thilina Bandara (Air Force), Umesha Madushan (Haveock SC), Gihan Perera (Navy SC), Omalka Gunarathane (Captain) (CR & FC), Sajith Saranga (CH & FC), Niwanka Prasad (CH & FC), Prabath Kumara (Army SC), Sathya Ranathunga (CH & FC), Lasindu Ishan (Havelock SC)
Backs – Rahul De Silva (CR & FC), Nuwan Perera (Air Force), Mithun Hapugoda (Havelock SC), Samuel Maduwantha ( CH & FC), Sandesh Jayawickrema (Havelock SC), Dinuk Amerasinghe (Havelock SC), Kavindu Perera (CR & FC), Sudaraka Dikkumbura (Army SC), Ashan Bandara (Army SC), Buddhima Piyarathane (Navy SC), Reeza Raffaideen (CR & FC), Anuradha Herath (CH & FC), Theekshana Dassanayake (Havelock SC), Kevin Dixon (CR & FC), Thilina Wijesinghe (Kandy SC) & Mohammed Absal (Navy SC)
