The national selection committee led by Sudath Sampath and the coaching staff headed by Sanath Martis have announced the Sri Lanka 23-member match day squad against Malaysia in the upcoming Asia Rugby Men’s Championship playoff 2025 scheduled to be played on the 19th of April at Racecourse Stadium, Colombo.
8 players who started for Sri Lanka last year against India and Kazakhstan in the Asia Rugby Division 1 Men’s Championship such as prop forward Janindu Fernando, hooker Pulasthi Dasanayake, flanker Tharindu Chathuranga, number eight Lasindu Karunathilake, scrum-half Heshan Jansen, center Akash Madushanka, winger Dinal Ekanayake and full-back Mursheed Zubair have been once again named in the starting XV led by talismanic skipper Nigel Ratwatte, who will play the pivotal role of fly-half.
CR & FC prop Senura Perera will join Fernando and Dasanayake in the front-row whilst rookie from Longden Place club Naveen Marasinghe will pair up with Kandy SC lock Thilina Bandara in the second row. Nizraan Nilar from Sri Lions SC will join Chathuranga and Karunathilake in the third row as the blind-side flanker.
Whilst Kandy duo Jansen and Ratwatte will be the half combination, Kandy’s Danushka Ranjan will play in the outside center position along with Madushanka. Janidu Dilshan will be one of the wingers set to unleash his pace and power against the Malaysian outfit.
Thenuka Nanayakkara, who was the starting fly-half for Sri Lanka Tuskers last year has been named in the bench which has a 5-3 combination.
Last year, Sri Lanka won the Asia Rugby Division 1 Men’s Championship 2024, earning them the opportunity to face Malaysia, who finished fourth in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024 behind Hong Kong, South Korea, and the UAE. The winner of Saturday’s clash will have a spot in the top-tier Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025.
- Sri Lanka Rugby named strong 35 players squad for Rugby World Cup 2027 – Qualifiers
- Sanath Martis assumes the duties of Head Coach of Sri Lanka Rugby
- Ratwatte to lead Sri Lanka Tuskers against Malaysia
- Sri Lanka Rugby Official Press Conference and Launch of the National Jersey
Watch Sri Lanka hosting Malaysia on 19th April (Saturday) evening LIVE on ThePapare 1 HD (Dialog Television Ch.126), Dialog ViU App and ThePapare.com from 4:00pm onwards.
Sri Lanka Squad
1. Janindu Fernando (Havelock SC)
2. Pulasthi Dasanayake (CH & FC)
3. Senura Perera (CR & FC)
4. Naveen Marasinghe (CR & FC)
5. Thilina Bandara (Kandy SC)
6. Nizraan Nilar (Sri Lions SC)
7. Tharindu Chathuranga (Kandy SC)
8. Lasindu Karunathilake (CR & FC)
9. Heshan Jansen (Kandy SC)
10. Nigel Ratwatte (Kandy SC – Captain)
11. Janindu Dilshan (CH & FC)
12. Akash Madushanka (Police SC)
13. Danushka Ranjan (Kandy SC)
14. Dinal Ekanayake (Kandy SC)
15. Mursheed Zubair (CR & FC)
16. Venura Kodagoda (CR & FC)
17. Vimukthi Gamage (CH & FC)
18. Thanuja Jayaweera (CR & FC)
19. Nirosh Perera (CH & FC)
20. Dahan Wickramarachchi (Kandy SC)
21. Mohammad Rifan (Havelock SC)
22. Thenuka Nanayakkara (CR & FC)
23. Pasindu Bandara (CH & FC)
Reserves
Malitha Wijesundara (Kandy SC) and Hirantha Perera (Police SC)
