Netball: Sooriyabandara, first male umpire from Sri Lanka for Asian Championship

Buddhika Sooriyabandara becomes the first Sri Lankan male umpire to officiate at the Asian Netball Championship which began at Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday (31). 

Sooriyabandara, who earlier was featured in the Asian Youth Netball Championship held in December, 2015 in Hong Kong, was one of the eight nominees sent as match officials by the Sri Lanka Netball Federation. 

In the history of international netball, women have been in the forefront and Sooriyabandara becomes the first male to break the tradition from Sri Lanka. 

The Sri Lankans who were nominated included six women and two male umpires but Sooriyabandara was the only candidate to pass the beep conducted by the Asian Netball Federation, to be called in to their umpires' panel for the 10th Asian Netball Championship.

Sooriyabandara is a veteran at domestic level with experience over ten years officiating high profile tournaments in Sri Lanka. 

He is a professional netball coach and is full time attached to the game as an expert of the game, dominated by women.