Saliya Kumara to lead Kandy SC this year

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN

Former Trinity College, Vidyartha College and Sri Lanka full back Saliya Kumara has been appointed to lead Kandy Sports Club at the forthcoming inter club rugby season. This appointment was made at a recent Committee Meeting of the club held at the Club Auditorium.

The appointment of Saliya Kumara as captain was predicted in the media at the beginning of the year but the club was expecting the arrival of the rugby coach Yohan Taylor from South Africa before taking a final decision.

It must be recalled that last year Saliya Kumara was appointed captain of the club but could not turn out for the club following a one-year suspension clasped on him and this ended in March this year. His inclusion in the side along with Keith Gurusinghe, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Sean Wijesinghe, Buddhi Talagampola will strengthen the side. These players were not available last year due to injuries and other reasons.

Around 30 ruggerites are undergoing vigorous training under coach Yohan Taylor assisted by the Manager Kapila Silva and Rugby Chairman Lasantha Wijesuriya. This training is necessary ahead of the strenuous rugby season ahead.

Senior Vice President of the Club Leslie de Zoysa said that the club has still not decided on the two non-national players permitted by the SLRFU. They may go for two New Zealanders or Australians but a final decision has been still not taken.

The players who are turning up for practices are skipper Saliya Kumara, Sean Wijesinghe, Pasil Marija, Anuranga Walpola, Buddhi Talagampola, Dinesh Kumara, Mohammed Jabbar, Keith Gurusinghe, Achala Perera, Kasun Yasaisuru, Damith Dissanayake, Liston Flatney, Senaka Bandara, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Arvinda Udangamuwa, Sajith Saranga, Prasad Chathuranga, Amila Prasanna Bandara, Gayan Weeraratne, Roshan Weeraratne, Tharindu Chanaka, Oshan Perera, Pavanga Perera, Kishore Jehan, Pradeep Liyanage, Asitha Ratnayake, Kusal Rankothge, Krishantha Rajapakse, Mohamed Faisal, Mohammed Arshan, Shashika Jayawardena.

A few more ruggerites are also expected to join in later.