Sajith leads Sri Lanka rugby team

Kandy SC's Sajith Mallikarachchi has been picked to lead Sri Lanka in the World Cup qualifying Asian Zone match at Suphanburi, Thailand on June 4 and against Singapore in Colombo on June 25.

27 year old Mallikarachchi has been playing for Sri Lanka since 1998 and is a utility player who can play either as a fly half or centre.

The national rugby selection committee comprising Dr. Maiya Gunasekera (Chairman), Chaminda Rupasinghe, Nazeem Mohamed and Rohan Abeykoon picked a 25-member squad from which two players will be omitted. The team has been training hard during the last few days under the watchful eyes of national coach George Simpkin who is being assisted by C. P. Abeygunawardena. The Sri Lanka team has been strengthened by the inclusion of Dushanth Lewke who has gained the much needed foreign exposure by playing provincial rugby in New Zealand.

The Sri Lanka squad:

PROP FORWARDS - Dilan Ekanayake (CH and FC), Saranath Hettiarachchi (Kandy SC), Jayantha Ranaweera (CH and FC) or Kishore Jehan (Old Zahirians).

HOOKERS - Viraj Prasantha (CR and FC), Anuranga Walpola (CR and FC).

LOCK FORWARDS - Senaka Bandara (CH and FC), Dinesh Sanjeewa (Old Zahirians), Anuradha Dharmatilleke (CR and FC).

FLANKERS - Pavithra Fernando (CR and FC), Dilanka Wijesekera (CH and FC), Rajiv Ganapathy (Havelocks).

NUMBER EIGHT - Dushanth Lewke (CH and FC) Scrum Halves - Zulki Hamid (CR and FC), Amjad Buksh (Kandy SC).

FLY HALF - Fazil Marija (Kandy SC).

CENTRES - Sajith Mallikarachchi (Captain, Kandy SC), Pradeep Liyanage (Kandy SC), Rajith Jayasundara (CR and FC).

WINGERS - Sanjeeva Jayasinghe (Kandy SC), Chamara Vithanage (Kandy SC), Kapila Knowlton (Army) or Danushka Pushpakumara (CR and FC).

FULL BACKS - Asanga Rodrigo (CR and FC), T. A. Silva (Army)

COACH - George Simpkin.

ASSISTANT COACH - C. P. Abeygunawardene.

MANAGER - Squadron Leader Sanjaya Fernando.