Rugby conundrum jolts Games plans
Gold medallist Vidanage will lead the 80-strong contingent
There was last minute furore in the Commonwealth Games Rugby camp. Now the Sri Lanka rugby authorities have requested several changes in their squad from the already approved one which also singed off by the minister of sports, citing injuries.
A seemingly upset Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Sri Lanka Maxwell de Silva told the Sunday Times “As far as we are concerned last minute changes of this magnitude is not possible, because the changes have to be established also at the Gold Coast end. So I suggest that the one we have got approval will have to stay”.
The suggested squad put forward by the Rugby authorities without the officials read as — Sudharshana Muthutantri (Captain), Adeesha Weerathunga, Naveen Heenkankanamge, Danush Dayan, Rehan Silva, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Tarinda Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Richard Dharmapala, Danushka Ranjan, Hirantha Perera, Sudam Sureyaarachchi, Sithum Peiris.
Meanwhile, Weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage, one the brightest medal hopes of the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, will lead the 80-strong athletic contingent to the games this time.
Chinthana won a gold medal for 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. Chinthana also has ‘Silver” in weightlifting at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
De Silva is of the view that the Commonwealth Games excursion is multifaceted. He said, “It is mainly a learning curve where many of our athletes will be looking to improve their personal standards with the experience and exposure that they get by taking part in a programme of this magnitude.
“I personally do not see many medals in our basket, but definitely there are some athletes who would answer the call and the Lankan weightlifters lead the hope list. Another athlete who is in de Silva’s radar is Anna-Marie Suzanne Quint Ondaatje who resides in Canada. Hailing from the famous Ondaatje family, Anna who is taking part in Gymnastics (Rhythmic) is a devoted student of the sport and is very concerned about doing well.”
Besides, the NOCSL Secretary General pointed out that they also bank a lot on the skills of the athletics and swimming contingents and that is why they have sent two teams to train under local conditions in the Gold Cost well ahead of the games. Even in the selections, he said the committee felt that as Dilrukshi Avanthi Perera was the best female in the ranking list and also because swimming is a sport that is fast developing, she was afforded the opportunity to travel for the Gold Coast games while the ministry suggested that former national champion and 
coach Julian Bolling also should be a part of the tour squad.
Meanwhile, former airman Chandana B Liyanage who joined the squad as the General Team manager now will act at the Chef de Mission during the first half of the games, because the selected candidate Gamini Jayasinghe is not available. However Jayasinghe is scheduled to join the tour party during the latter half of the games. Liyanage performed the job of Chef de Mission during the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in 2010.
| Sri Lankan Commonwealth Games contingent | |
| Aquatics Swimming: Cherantha de Silva (50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m, 20m and 100m Butterfly), Matthew Abeysinghe (50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle), Akalanka Peiris (50m, 100m and 200m Backstroke and 50m Butterfly), Kyle Abeysinghe (50m and 100m Freestyle) (Male) Vinoli Kaluarachchi (50m and 100m Backstroke, 50m and 100m Freestyle), Dilrukshi Avanthi Devmini Perera (50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly)(Female) Diving: Lakshini de Silva (1m and 3m Springboard) (Female) and Thejana Peiris (1m, 3m and 10m Springboard) (Male) Team Manager: Chanaka Hasantha Coaches: Julian Bolling and Buddi Abeysinghe (Swimming) Chanaka Duminda (Diving) Athletics Manjula Kumara (High Jump), Sampath Ranasinghe (Javelin), Suranjaya de Silva, Himasha Eshan, Shehan Ambepitiya, Lakshitha Wickremasinghe ( 4 X 100), Janaka Wimalasiri (Long Jump) (Male) W.K.L.A. Nimali and Gayanthika Thushari (800m)Dilhani Lekamge (Javelin), Hiruni Wijeratne (Marathon – Qualification requires), Rumeshika Kumari Rathnayaka (200m recommended by NSC) (female) Team Manager: Nimalsiri Hewa Witanage Coaches: Sunil Gunawardena (Coordinator relay team), Miranda Ramirez Luis (Middle Distance), Sajith Jayalal (Jumps), Kingsley Gunathilaka (Javelin) Badminton Buwaneka Dullewa (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Mixed Team Event) Dinuka Karunaratne (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Team Event), Niluka Karunaratne (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Team Event) Sachin Dias (Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Mixed Team Event) (Male) Thilini Hendahewa (Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Mixed Team Event) Kavidi Sirimannege (Mixed Doubles and Mixed Team Event), Hasini Ambalangodage (Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Team Event) Madushika Dilrukshi (Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Mixed Team Event) Team Manager: Duminda Gamage and Women’s Manager: Nishantha Aluthge Coaches: Dhanesh Malliyawadu, Tony Wahyudi Beach Volleyball Asanka Pradeep Kumara and Malintha Yapa Coach: Mahesh Perera Boxing Ranjeewa Seneviratne Bandara (52Kgs), Sandaruwan Ranasinghe (49Kgs), Dushan Saparamadu (64 Kgs)(Male) Anusha Dilrukshi (48Kgs), Dulani Jayasinghe (51Kgs), Hansika Kasturi Arachchi (57Kgs) Coach/Cutman: Dian Gomes, Coach: Harsha Kumara and Aravinda Thissera (Extra Official) Cycling Avishka Dilnuwan and Sandun Kumara (Road Event) Team Manager: Clement Ranasinghe Coach: Upali Ratnayake Gymnastics Samanali Gunathilaka, Amaya Kalukottege, Kaushini Gunasinghe Gamage (Artistic) Coach: Tharanga Welandage Gymnastics Anna-Marie Ondaatje (Rhythmic) Coach: SvetLana Joukova Medical Personnel: Monique Elia Petricone Rugby Sevens S. Sriyanga Mihiran Muthuthantri, Dansa Dayan Chandradas, C. Rehan Rumesh Silva, U. Priyanja Omalka Purna Gunaratne, V.G. Charles Jesan Dissanayaka, R. Anuradha Srinath Sooriyabandara, Ashan Tarinda Ratwatte, T.A.D. Kavindu Perera, W.M. Anurudha Bandara Wilwara, Richard Dharmapala, W.M. Dhanushka Ranjan, H.K. Naveen Levanjith, (Stand by): Hirantha Perera, Rafaideen Thuwan Reeza, Sudam Pharinda Sureyaarachchi, N.K. Buddima Rushna Priyaratne. Director High Performance: Inthisham Marikar Coach: Peter Wood Trainer: Nicolas Groube Shooting Suranga Fernando (10m Air Rifle Pistol and 50 Pistol) Upul Kumara Wijeratne (50m Pistol) (Male) Sanduni Perera (10m Air Rifle) (Female) Manager: Chinthaka Edirisinghe Squash Ravindu Laksiri (Male) and Mihiliya Methsarani (Female) Table Tennis Udaya Ranasinghe, Rohan Sirisena, Nirmala Bandara Jayasingha (Team Event) (Male) Madurangi Dharshika, Hansani Kapugeekiyana, Erandi Warusawithana (Female) Team Manager: Chathura Jayendra Coach: Madushanka Wickremasinghe Weightlifting Chathuranga Lakmal (56Kgs), Thilanka Palangasinghe (62Kgs), Chathuranga Dissanayake (69Kgs), Chinthana Vidanage (77Kgs), Shanaka Peters (94Kgs), Saman Abeywickrama (105Kgs) Ushan Charuka (+105Kgs) (Male) Hansani Gomes(48Kgs), Chamari Warnakulasuriya (53Kgs), Nadeeshani Rajapaksha (58Kgs), Priyanthi Balage (75Kgs) Team Manager: Thamel Warnakulasuriya Head Coach: R.M.R.B. Wickremasinghe Assistant Coach: Navindhra Dayan Masseur: Upul Bandara Jayathilaka Wrestling Divoshan Fernando (57Kgs), Chanaka Fernando (74Kgs)(Male) Dilhani Weerabahu (53Kgs) Team Manager: Prageeth Priyankara Coach: Jagath Priyantha |