Players in injury list look strong as squad of 45 picked for NZ tests
View(s):Prominent names are among those who missed out selection in the Sri Lanka 15s squad for the upcoming two-legged test series of the New Zealand U85kg Rugby Tour of Sri Lanka 2026. According to the list of names who made it into the squad of 45, a total of 65 players have been players subjected to a medical screening earlier this week by the Ministry of Sports, and a list of 18 players were not cleared for selection.
The list of 18 listed out, 15 were identified as injured, or recovering from or nursing injury following the hectic SLR-Maliban Club Rugby League and Knockout tournaments that obviously burned out many of the key players who could have made a huge impact with the Sri Lanka 15s team. Two players were cited migrating to another country as reason for being excluded, while one has opted coaching over playing.
The players who are migrating are Janindu Fernando of Havelocks and CR&FC’s Senura Perera, while Havies forward Azmir Fajudeen have put his commitments as a coach with Royal College, ahead of national selection.
Among the long list of injured players are those who overly contributed for their respective clubs at the concluded domestic competitions, what itself would be an ideal combination for a playing XV. The list includes powerhouses, impact makers and opportunity creators with good exposure at local and international levels such as Dahan Wickramaarachchi, Heshan Jansen, Abdullah Faiz, Mushin Faleel, Janidu Wijeratne, Dilshan Fareed, Malitha Wijesundera, Asiri Seneviratne, Pathum Weerashinghe, Shaheed Zumri, Jayawickrema brothers – Sandesh and Sudesh, Mohamed Rifan, Udesh Madushanka and Pasindu Bandara.
In addition, Sri Lanka 15s have lost the services of seven key players with Srinath Sooriyabandara topping the list, as the players have officially notified Sri Lanka Rugby that they wish to focus only the 7s format. Others in the list are Devinda Ratnayake, Gayan Perera, Kavindu Perera, Chathura Zoysa, Kavindu de Costa and Rinesh Silva.
Besides losing the privilege of 25 options, Sri Lanka Rugby has continued its training and selection process with the naming of a squad of 45. The list will be gradually cut down to 25 by April 25, when Sri Lanka take on the New Zealand U85kg in the first of two tests at the Racecourse in Colombo, with the second game slotted on May 3 at Nittawela.
Following the two tests, Sri Lanka 15s will continue with their regional commitments of the Asia Rugby Men’s Top 4 Championship with three games set to be played during May and June. Sri Lanka will host Hong Kong in the first game on May 24, and will travel to Dubai for their second game against the United Arab Emirate on June 5.
Sri Lanka’s final game of the four-team competition will be against South Korea on June 13 at Incheon. The named 45-member squad will be within the selection process for the upcoming Asia Rugby Men’s Top 4 Championship.
n Props: Vimukthi Deshan, Hansitha de Silva, Charith Silva, Nisal Silva, Kaveesha Amarasekera, Yoshitha Sithumina, Dilshan Jayah, Sabith Mushin
n Hookers: Pulasthi Dassanayake, Venura Kodagoda, Shamika Kaushan
n Locks: Thilina Bandara, Naveen Marasinghe, Shashika Jayawardena, Shenal Adikaram
n Flankers: Tharindu Chathuranga, Lahiru Thilakaratne, Omalka Gunaratne, Oliver Buckle, Naham Hemachandra, Udesh Madushanka, Achitha Radeeshan
n No.8: Lasindu Karunathilaka, Chathura Dilshan
n Scrum Halves: Harsha Maduranga, Viduna Amaneth, Kaveesha Kaluaraachchi, Koojana Kulathunga
n Fly Halves: Thenuka Nanayakkara, Isuru Kongahawatte, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Naveen Kanishka
n Centres: Akash Madushanka, Diluksha Dange, Manilka Ruberu, Pramod Padmasanka, Dilshara Kodagoda
n Wingers: Janindu Dilshan, Dinal Ekanayake, Gamunu Chethiya, Jayathu Rajaratne, Chemod Muthunayake, Arosh Rathnayake
n Full Backs: Musheed Doray, Yuwan Pathirana