Operation willow
Northern Warriors won the second Commander's Cup League T20
Since making their way into the local cricket arena in 1951, Sri Lanka Army has achieved what any other military entity in the country would not be able to attain by today. In its 70th year in domestic cricket, Sri Lanka Army has become one of the strongest contributors to the nation, besides its undeterred commitments to the country’s security and in other sectors, including sports.
Ever since breaking into Premier status in 2005, Sri Lanka Army has produced many players to the national stream with Ajantha Mendis being the forerunner. Unlike many other clubs that would reach the top tier and present a ‘single sensation’, Sri Lanka Army went beyond its limits to become worthy partners of Sri Lanka cricket.
The Army cricket team became a worthy opponent to any top premier team in the domestic arena, and beyond that it continued to produce more cricketers to the national stream. Seekkuge Prasanna and Asela Gunaratne are two of their finest products, even to have earned global recognition as icon players in international T20 Leagues.
Not taking breaks, Sri Lanka Army inducted national players such as Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera and Tharindu Kaushal to their list and also have recruited budding international stars Suminda Lakshan and Maheesh Theekshana. Sri Lanka Army is also home to national women’s players Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasooriya, Nilakshi de Silva, Madushika Metthananda, Imalka Mendis, Roshini Perera and Anushka Sanjeewani.
Their next level of success is measured with its own homegrown tournament, the Army Commander’s League T20, which fruitfully ended its second consecutive installment. Maj. Gen. Pasan Wanasinghe, the Chairman of Army Cricket, stated that the recent developments in cricket is due to the direct interest and involvement of the Commander in Chief, General Shavendra Silva, who himself was a prominent cricketer at school and domestic level.
“The Commander himself has a rich cricket background and he too had joined the Army to continue playing cricket, though his fortunes took a different path. But today, we do have a Chief who knows his cricket and above that keen in making Sri Lanka Army one of the strongest contributors to the game,” Maj. Gen. Wanasinghe stated.
What was initiated as the Army Commander’s League T20 last year at its latest facility in Dombagoda off Kalutara, Sri Lanka Army has braved even the pandemic situation to continuously continue the competition. It possesses the facilities, abilities and the know-how to conduct a fully secured competition that runs for seven straight days in a closed environment, and executes plans with perfection, providing a paradigm to other competition organisers.
“We have a strong and united team behind-the-curtain attending all necessary areas to run the Commander’s League smoothly. This is not the only project we handle as the team that’s in-charge of cricket in the Army,” Maj. Gen. Wanasinghe added.
Besides its existing facilities in Panagoda and Dombagoda, Sri Lanka Army is looking at completing fully-fledged cricket facilities in Karandeniya and Saliyapura and other earmarked locations in Sri Lanka. All facilities will be up to international standard and would have the ability to hold even an international game, upon sanction from the global governing body.
“The Commander’s vision for cricket is broad-based and strong. He initiated the induction of national cricketers into Sri Lanka Army with a long term plan to develop the sport within. This tournament and the grounds are all part and parcel of his vision,” Maj. Gen. Wanasinghe explained.
With national cricketers inside Sri Lanka Army taking charge of training and developing skills of its existing players, Maj. Gen. Wanasinghe revealed that level of competition among its cricketers at Inter-Unit and Inter-Regimental tournaments are gradually improving. Through this, the Army intends to create a platform similar to ‘talent hunt’, which is already intact with the Commander’s League T20, where four teams are in contention for the plum.
To bolster its home talent, Sri Lanka Army makes sure to include additional national players, with whom these budding national cricketers will play alongside and against. Among them are Milinda Siriwardana, Ashan Priyanjan, Ramesh Mendis, Sandun Weerakkody, Chathuranga de Silva, Lahiru Madushanka, Dammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Perera, Upul Tharanga, Nuwan Pradeep and Dilshan Munaweera.
“The Commander’s League T20 will continue to prosper, as well as our other planned development projects. We can only hope for and secure a better future for our cricketers and those who join the Army to prosper in cricket. Sri Lanka Army will become a haven for talented cricketers and cricket in general in years to come,” bolstered by its plans, stated Maj. Gen. Wanasinghe.