Sports

Rumesh & Aruna set to compete in Sydney Track Classic

Published

5 days ago

March 14, 2025

editor

Former Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga and 400m runner Aruna Darshana are set to compete in the Sydney Track Classic in Australia tomorrow (15).

The event is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour – Challenger Event.
Both athletes are currently in Australia, with Rumesh Tharanga having already competed in two events in recent weeks. He recorded an impressive 82.66m throw at the Strive Program – A event and an even better 85.41m throw at the Perth Track Classic, which was the best performance of the year at that time. His throws currently rank second and fourth among the best javelin performances of the year.

Meanwhile, Aruna Darshana, who had initially planned to compete in the Perth Track Classic, was unable to participate due to visa delays. This will be his first event of the season. Among the qualified athletes for the 400m race, he holds the best personal record of 44.99 seconds, which he achieved in the preliminary rounds of the Paris Olympics.

Additionally, Sumedha Ranasinghe, who recently broke Rumesh’s national record and secured qualification for the Tokyo World Championships, and 400m athlete Kalinga Kumarage were both listed for the Sydney Track Classic. However, reports indicate that they will not be participating.

Rumesh and Aruna will have the opportunity to directly qualify for the Tokyo World Championships if they achieve the required standards of 85.50m in javelin and 44.85 seconds in the 400m at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Complex tomorrow.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

SLC captains challenge player employment classification

Published

23 hours ago

March 18, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Cricket ODI Captain Charith Asalanka and Test Cricket Captain Dhanajaya De Silva have filed writ petitions before the Court of Appeal.

Their petitions have challenged the classification of Sri Lanka’s national cricketers as employees of the national association, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

The writ petition was fixed for further support on March 28 by Court of Appeal (Acting President) Justice Mohammed Laffar and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando.

The petitioners are seeking for notice to quash and suspend the decision of the IRD.

Counsel Nishan Sydney Premathiratne appeared with Shenali Dias and Sidath Gajayanaka on the instructions of Gamindu Karunasena for the petitioners, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya De Silva. President’s Counsel Kuvera de Soyza with Pasindu Bandara and Sajana de Soyza on the instructions of Sanjay Fonseka represented Sri Lanka Cricket. Deputy Solicitor General Manohara Jayasinghe appeared for the Inland Revenue Department.

A letter signed by 38 national cricketers, including players Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis setting out the grievance and endorsing the petitioners to seek appropriate legal redress on the unlawful classification was also placed before Court.

Sports

Dasun Shanaka to join IPL franchise Delhi Capitals

Published

1 day ago

March 18, 2025

editor

Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has joined the Delhi Capitals squad ahead for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is set to begin on March 22 and all teams have already started their training sessions.

Shanaka has reportedly been brought in as a replacement for Harry Brook, who is serving a two-year IPL ban.

Dasun Shanaka played a key role in Dubai Capitals’ title-winning campaign at the recently concluded International League T20 (ILT20) in the UAE. His standout performances in the tournament are believed to have influenced Delhi Capitals’ decision to recruit him for the upcoming season.

Shanaka is already training with the Delhi Capitals squad, and an official announcement regarding his inclusion is expected soon by the team management.

News

Roshan questions objective of new Polhena stadium

Published

1 day ago

March 18, 2025

editor

Former cricketer Roshan Mahanama has called for a reassessment of the proposed international cricket stadium project planned to be built in the Polhena area of Matara.

He made this remark in a post on his official Facebook account.

A discussion regarding the construction of the Matara Polhena International Cricket Training School and Stadium was recently held between Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development Sunil Handunnetti and officials from Sri Lanka Cricket.

There, it was decided to complete the relevant preliminary work within a month.

Against this backdrop, Roshan Mahanama, a former cricketer and a member of the National Sports Council, has emphasized that the motives and objectives behind such mega projects should be questioned.

He pointed out that the current need is not to spend money on constructing new stadiums, but rather to implement a national program aimed at improving existing facilities and enhancing the cricketing skills (closer to home/school) of students.