By Ranjika Perera
Sri Lanka Rugby Sevens men’s preliminary squad (56):
Sri Lanka Air Force (7) –
Ravidu Hettiarachchi, Nuwan Perera, Ishara Madushan, Imesh Aponsu, Ovin Asanka, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, and Dunal N. Fernando
Sri Lanka Army (3) –
Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Ashan Bandara, and Lasantha Kumara
Ceylon Hockey & Football Club (CH&FC) (11) –
Omalka Gunaratne, Reeza Raffaideen, Sudam P. Sooriyaarchchi, Janidu Dilshan, Sudarshana Muthutantri, Avishka Lee, Hirantha Perera, Shehan Dias, Avantha Lee, Kushan Indunil, and Thenuka Nanayakkara
Ceylon Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) (4) –
Mursheed Z. Dorey, Gamunu Chethiya, Chamod Fernando, and Kalindu Nandila
Havelocks Sports Club (8) –
Kavindu Keshan, Thikshana Dassanayaka, Lasindu Ishan, Vimukthi Rahula, Mithun Hapugoda, Randy Silva, Ramesh Fernando, and Nishon Perera
Kandy Sports Club (11) –
Kavindu Perera, Buddima B. Piyarathna, Danusha Dayan, Jason Dissanayake, Tharindu Ratwatte, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Heshan Jansen, Nigal Ratwatte, Thilina Bandara, Lavanga Perera, and Diluksha Dange
Sri Lanka Navy (4) –
Adeesha Weerathunga, Chathura Seneviratne, Mushin Faleed, and Yoshitha Rajapaksa
Police (8) –
Iroshan Silva, Sachith Silva, Wageesha Weerasinghe, Suranga Kasun, Manilka Ruberu, Mohan Wimalaratne, Akash Madhusanka, and Janith Chanaka
Players who are unavailable (6) –
Raveen Fernando (Havelocks), Kevin Dixon (CH&FC), Dinuk Amerasinghe (CR&FC), Kanchan Ramanayake (CR&FC), Samuel Ogbebor (CH&FC), and Jason Dissanayake (Kandy)
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After a chaotic couple of weeks, Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is now set to take the field once again with national men’s Sevens trials, which are to finalise the team for the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, England. The total number of 56 players in the national squad will be divided into four teams that will play against each other on Sunday (24). The matches will be played at the Air Force grounds in Ratmalana. League rugby halted The trials will be used to finalise the squad for the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Game, scheduled to begin on 28 July. After SLR was suspended by former Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa, the Rugby League which was ongoing was brought to an abrupt halt with the Director General of Sports Development Amal Edirisooriya being appointed by the Minister to overlook the sport until the next SLR elections. Deadline 30 April Edirisooriya decided as a first step to focus on the Sevens aspect, keeping an eye on the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The final date to submit the squads for the Games is 30 April. However, Sri Lanka women’s squad is yet to be finalised.