Lankan Junior hockey team for Malaysia

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports Corr

An 18 member Sri Lanka Junior National hockey team will participate at the 7th Asian Junior Hockey Championship to be held in Malacca in Malaysia from May 3 to 13.

Sri Lanka will be participating in this championship after a lapse of seven years. The last time they participated was in 2005.

The Sri Lanka team will be led by former Ananda College centre half Dimal Dias who is one of the experienced players in the side.

The deputy skipper of the side is goal keeper Nuwan Prematillake who is an old boy of Vijaya College, Matale and is now with the Sri Lanka Army.

The squad includes four schoolboys namely Dharutha Tenna (Vijaya College), Saheed Kuthubdeen (Royal College) Imad Muzzammil (Wesley College), Anjana Ratnayake (Ananda College).

The other members of the Squad Nadeen Weerakkody (Air Force), Kasun Dunuweera (Army), Tilina Sandaruwan (Aviva NDB Bank), Akila Nissanka (old Joseph Vazian), Amila Ratnasiri (Navy), H M M G Hendeniya (Army), Ashan Alles (Hayleys Ltd), J Surendra (Singer Sri Lanka Ltd), S M Gunawardena (Old Christ Church College and Air Force), Asanga Bandara (Air Force), Damith Bandara (Department of Education), Madawa Perera (Old Maris Stella).

The team will be accompanied by former Christ Church College and Sri Lanka goal keeper Anuruddha Bandara as the coach with A N P C Lanerolle as the Assistant coach. K Jayaratne of the Department of Immigration is the chef de mission.

The manager of team is Dayal Deegahawathura who is currently the Officer In Charge of Omanthai Police station. The team will be also accompanied by Chandana Herath Bandara (Umpire) and Indrawansa Herath (Judge).