Sailors keep their sails steady and high
View(s):The Sri Lanka Navy women’s Rugby team had an impressive season in 2017, bagging Women’s Championship of the Sri Lanka Super Sevens played at Nittawela and the Racecourse ground earlier this month. The Navy women outsmarted tournament rivals Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air Force and CR and FC to win the title of the first ever high-profile Sevens tournament they played in.
The two legged competition was held at Nittawela on July 8 and 9 followed by the second installment on July 15 and 16 at the Racecourse ground. Prior to that the Navy women claimed the Inter-Club Women’s 7s Championship, beating Army SC by 41-5 on June 11. On the same day Navy SC men emerged champions of the Dialog Inter-Club 7s Championship beating CR and FC by 21-17 at the Racecourse ground. The Navy SC men’s team is led by Lieutenant Commander R.P. Roshan while their women’s outfit is captained by WOS W.S.D.S. Wijethilake.
Sri Lanka Navy has a high profile coaching staff with Mothilal Jayathilake handling the Division ‘A’ and women’s teams. Brigadier Jupana Jayawardena, a well respected Rugby stalwart, is the Head Coach of teams competing in Division ‘B’ and ‘C’. In addition the teams are well supported by the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, a former Rugby player himself, Rear Admiral Udaya Hettiarachchi and Captain Buddhika Liyanagamage of the Rugby Committee. Navy SC is a prominent Division ‘A’ team in Sri Lanka with its humble beginning running back to 1961.
Navy SC Men’s Rugby Team
Seated from left: OD K.G.C. Chandimal, OD M.D.C. Fernando, OD R.K.D. Anand (Asst. Coach), U.G.M. Suranga (Manager), RADM (S) H.A.U.D. Hettiarachchi (Chairman), VADM R.C. Wijegunarathna (Commander of the Navy), Capt. R.A.P.P. Rathnayaka (Director Sports), Capt. B. Liyanagamage (Secretary), LCDR (S) R.P. Roshan (Captain), M. Jayathilaka (Coach/Trainer), OD S.A.D.A. Perera, OD R.M.M.S. Ranathunga 1st row from left: L/Sea D.M.S.D. de Silva (Physio), OD H.M.L.L. Herath, OD M.K.A.T.M. Malimbada, CA I.I.G.J.A. Jayawardana, OD G.D.J. Laksara, OD D.L.D.D. Sandanuwan, OD N.K.B.B. Piyarathna, OD N.K.L. Perera, OD H.D.D.P. Wijesinghe, OD W.G.L. Vishvajith, AB T.S.A. Peiris, W.S.M.M. Abeysekara, OD A.E. Weerathunga, OD S.J.F. Gregory, OD A.D.V.A. Perera, OD R.A.N.U. Perera, OD M.C.J. Silva, AB N.K. de Silva, OD W.A.C. Dilshan, OD N.H.D. Lakmal, OD T.M. Weerasinghe, OD M.K. Thisera, CA I.J.A.N. Prasad, L.M.E.D.A. P.S. Nandasena (Physio) 2nd row from left: OD I.U. Kongahawaththe, TAI T.M.A. Gunasinghe, ME P.M.B.C. Madushanka, OD N.H. Maduranga, OD L.M. Keegal, OD P.B.U. Madusanka, OD R.P.H.H. Maduranga, OD H.D.L. de Silva, OD W.A.S. Dilshan, OD K.G.M. Madushan, OD V.N.J.A. Wickramarathne, AB A.J.P. Mendis, OD I.P.R.D. Dharamapala, OD A.G. Punchihewa, AB S.D. Ranaweera, AB E.H.E. de Silva, OD A.M.S. Amarathunga, AB P.L. Ranaweera, OD M.H. Sidantha
Sri Lanka Navy Women’s Rugby Team
Seated from left: LS (SBS) D.M.S.D. de Silva, LSA M.E.R.C. de Silva, PO F.J.J. de Silva, RADM (S) H.A.U.D. Hettiarachchi (Chairman), VADM R.C. Wijegunarathna (Commander of the Navy), Capt R.A.P.P. Rathnayaka (Director Sports), Capt B. Liyanagamage (Secretary), WOD W.S.D.S. Wijethilake, LMEDA P.S. Nandasena. Standing from left: WOD S.H.U.S. Mathusena, PTI P. Dilani, WOD H.M.I. Lakmali, WOD A.H.S. Madhumali, WOD H.L.S. Jayamali, WOD R.S.H. Kumari, WOD M.D.R. Kumudumali, WOD W.M.S. Wasana, PTII D.P. Abeysekara, WOD T.D.G. de Silva, WTR W.A.A.K.M. Welikala, PTII B.G.M. Edirisinghe, WOD W.P.G. Yalingasinghe, WOD N.J.K. Dilrukshi, WOD G.G. Randunu