The Sri Lankan water polo teams took the wing on the 09th of August 2023 for the 22nd Asia Pacific Water Polo tournament in Hong Kong, organized by the Hong Kong China Swimming Association.
The tourney will run from the 11th of August to the 13th of August at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool Complex, featuring 7 teams from 6 nations.
The Sri Lankan national side consists of both internationally experienced and school players. Shehan Dassanayake and Samaakhya Gajanayake are the two captains of the Men’s and Women’s teams. Poorna Kankanige, Keshan Munasinghe, Ajantha Silva, and Dinesh Dayananda will assist the team as the coaching staff while Shamod Edirisinghe will manage the team.
The national team is a mix of players from multiple leading schools and clubs in water polo. 13 out of the sixteen women players are school athletes while only 4 out of 16 men are schoolboys.
Sri Lanka Women’s Team
Player Name | School/Club | Position |
Samaakhya Gajanayake (Captain) | Visakha Vidyalaya Old Girls’ Association | Goalkeeper |
Selina Silva | Bishop’s College | Goalkeeper |
Sithaarah Zuhair | Ladies’ College | Bar/Wing |
Rohansa Vidyaratne | Visakha Vidyalaya | Prop/Bar |
Sinali Rathnayake | Bishop’s College | Wing/Prop |
Jayendri Perera | Bishop’s College | Bar/Wing |
Arani Dorabawila | Visakha Vidyalaya | Bar/Wing |
Poojani Wijesinghe | Visakha Vidyalaya | Center |
Chenuri Fernando | Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club | Wing |
Selini Senithya | Anula Vidyalaya | Wing |
Karishma Hewavisenti | Ladies’ College | Center/Wing |
Kawshalya Hemamali | Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club | Goalkeeper |
Treasa Adams | Ladies’ College | Prop/Wing |
Aneeka Sumanatilleke | Ladies’ College | Wing |
Tharuki Kalansooriya | Ladies’ College | Wing |
Chrishael Robin | Ladies’ College | Bar |
Sri Lanka Men’s Team
Player Name | School/Club | Position |
Shehan Dassanayake (Captain) | Royal College Union Aquatic Club | Bar |
Isiwaruna De Silva | Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club | Left Bar |
Prasad Dissanayake | Royal College Union Aquatic Club | Goalkeeper |
Sumith Kumara | Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club | Right Wing |
Yamith Jayakody | Royal College Union Aquatic Club | Prop |
Nawod Bandara | Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club | Center |
Indunil Karunaratne | Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club | Prop |
Krishan Udeyathra | Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club | Goalkeeper |
Nehemiah Krishnaswamy | S. Thomas’ College | Right Wing |
Mishen Kottearachchi | Royal College Union Aquatic Club | Left Wing |
Sahiru Athukorala | D.S Senanayake College | Goalkeeper |
Yumal Bollegala | S. Thomas’ College | Left Wing |
Shreshta Anthonisz | S. Thomas’ College | Center |
Kanitha Munasinghe | Royal College Union Aquatic Club | Left Wing |
Bhanuka Wijesundara | Starfish Aquatic Academy | Right Wing |
Aaqil Zuhair | Old Thomian Sports Club | Right Bar |
When looking back at the history of Sri Lanka at the Asia Pacific water polo tournament, Sri Lanka men made history by winning a silver medal in 2016. Also, Sri Lanka women’s team was a bronze medalist in 2019.
In addition, the National Water Polo team was supported to the fullest by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union, Air Force basic training camp Ratmalana, Aitken Spence hotels, Hela Apparel Holdings, MAS Linear Aqua, Thalis, Alliance Sri Lanka, and the Bollegala Family.