After a season to forget, the Navy Sports Club has decided to embark on a new journey by appointing former national prop forward Dhanushka Boteju as their head of the coaching unit.
Dhanushka started his rugby career at the Isipathana College, which is widely regarded as the cradle for many rugby talents in both playing and coaching fields. After a successful school career, Dhanushka got a call-up from the prestigious CR & FC club. His unmatched and unwavering performances managed to accomplish the dream of any local rugby player, that is, wearing the national jersey.
After a successful playing career, Dhanushka hung up his boots and got into the coaching field with the junior teams of well-reputed schools in Colombo. Dhanushka continuously sharpened his coaching and leadership skills while he worked with sides like St Thomas’ College, St Joseph’s College, D. S. Senanayake College and Zahira College. A couple of years ago he returned to his alma mater as the deputy of the head coach, Saliya Kumara, and looked after the forwards of Green Machine. With the exit of Saliya, Dhanushka Botheju got a breakthrough appointment as the head coach of the Pathana brigade for the 2024/2025 Inter-Schools rugby season. He reached the pinnacle of his coaching career early in this year by guiding the title-winning Isipathana outfit at the President’s Trophy Knockout Championship.
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After conducting rigorous training sessions for years, Dhanushka built a reputation as a specialist forwards coach, and he also achieved World Rugby Level 2 Coaching accreditation. He is also a phenomenal figure at club rugby, and he has enjoyed successful coaching stints with CR & FC, Havelock SC, CH & FC and Police SC as the forwards coach.
He will be assisted by the past player of Vidyartha and Trinity Colleges, Kosala Thisera, who had a long playing career with Navy Sports Club. Hence, the veteran Kosala will have insight about the Navy players and the way that the club should manage them while progressing towards success. Further, the former Navy SC and ex-national player Saliya Handapangoda will be looking after the fitness of the sailors as the trainer of the side.
Meanwhile, past player of Presidents College, Maharagama, and Thurstan College, Denuwan Hansaka Wickramarachchi, who is a flanker of the side, has been appointed as the captain of the side. He will be assisted by the past Dharmaraja College forward, Pramuditha Hasaranga Epa, who can be considered a future prospect of Navy SC. Further, ex-Isipathana player Isuru Umayanga Kongahawatta, who played alongside Omalka Gunarathna at school, will be the other co-vice captain. Isuru, who is the fly-half of the side, will also act as the leader of the three-quarters division.
Local rugby fans have to wait for a few months to see whether the combination of Dhanushka Botheju and Denuwan Hansaka can turn the ambitions of the sailors into accomplishments.
Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club – Captains and officials for 2025/2026 Club Rugby Season
Head – Coach Dhanushka Botheju
Assistant Coach – Kosala Thisera
Trainer (Strength & Conditioning) – Saliya Handapangoda
Team Managers – Bhathiya Samaraweera / Prasanga Abeyrathne
Team Captain – Denuwan Hansaka Wickramarachchi
Vice Captain – Pramuditha Hasaranga Epa
Co Vice Captain – Isuru Umayanga Kongahawatta
