The five-member national selection panel for netball picked an 18-member pool following the preliminary trials concluded at Bandaragama on Sunday (29), before pruning it down to 15 which will represent Sri Lanka at the 14th Senior Asian Netball Championship in Hong Kong.

The squad chosen by the Padma Baddewela-led panel includes a mixture of experience and youth and according to netball analysts would be one of the contenders for the title along with Singapore, Malaysia and hosts Hong Kong China.

The final 15-member squad is only due to be selected come June with the players being put through their paces by head coach Somitha de Alwis.

Sri Lanka the six times champions are aiming for a top-two finish at the forthcoming competition with the hope of qualifying for next year’s Netball World Cup to be staged in Sydney, Australia.

World Netball has stipulated that the Asian Championship to be held from 6-16 August will be utilised as the Asian Qualifying round for the game’s marquee event to be staged in Down Under in 2027.

The Sri Lanka 18-member netball pool

Thissala Algama, Bashi Udagedara, Rashmi Perera, Imasha Perera, Mihidum Keerthisiri (participation yet to be confirmed), Thumalka Ekanayaka, Thilini Wattegedara, Gayanjali Amarawansa, Dulangi Wannithileke, Ishara Dharmasiri, Rukshala Hapuarachchi, Chamudi Wickramaratna, Gayani Dissanayaka, Anjalika Thillakaratne, Samurdhi de Silva, Thimi Wasanthapriya, Chalani Neesha and Poornima Waidyaratne