In preparation for the forthcoming 14th Asian Netball Championships (ANC) in August this year, the Sri Lanka Netball Team is currently engaged in a six-match series against New Zealand’s Lincoln University A Team.
The series has been facilitated by the intervention of former President of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka (NFSL) Tamara Dharmakirti-Herath, while further support has been extended by the Sports Ministry and the incumbent NFSL administration headed by Vajira Nethicumara.
The opener was played at the Dadella Sports Complex in Galle from on Wednesday (1), while the second match was played at the same venue on the following day. The two teams are slated to head to Kandy and Colombo to play the next four matches.
The ongoing netball series has materialised following a response to an invitation extended by the NFSL.
Meanwhile, the 12-member-strong National Netball Team led by goal shooter Thishala Algama and coached by former Captain Somitha de Alwis, which is expected to contest the ANC next month, has reportedly received approval from Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage. The tour party also includes three reserve players and five officials.
The 14th ANC is scheduled to be held in Hong Kong from 6 to 15 August with five-time Champions Sri Lanka looking for a top-two finish at the event to qualify for the Netball World Cup in Australia next year.
The Sri Lankans’ most recent international competition was the 2024 edition of the ANC in Bengaluru, India where they ended as Runners-Up to eventual winners Singapore.
Speaking ahead of the series of matches against the Lincoln University Team, the NFSL President expressed confidence that it would expose the national team to top-level competition ahead of the intense test awaiting them next month in Hong Kong, China.
She added that the series would enable Algama’s team to test their combinations, finalise tactics under pressure, and make due adjustments to improve their game in order to meet the expected competitive standards in Asia.
Nethicumara also noted that clubs, school teams, coaches, and umpires were welcome to watch the matches free of charge. This opportunity has been made possible through financial support from the Ministry of Sports and LB Finance PLC, the official corporate sponsor of the National Netball Team for the ANC 2026.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was officially signed at the LB Finance Corporate Office by Managing Director Niroshan Udage and NFSL President Nethicumara recently.
The 17-member national netball squad is as follows:
Thishala Algama (Captain), Thilini Wattegedara (Vice Captain), Dulangi Wannithilake, Thumalka Ekanayake, Bhashi Udagedara, Rashi Perera, Gayanjali Amarawansa, Chalini Neesha, Gayani Dissanayake, Malmi Hettiarachchi, Thimi Wasanthapriya, and Anjalika Thillakaratne
Reserves: Samindi Rasangi de Silva, Hashini Dharmasiri, and Ruskshala Hapuarachchi
Team officials: Somitha de Alwis (Coach), Kumarihamy Tennakoon (Manager), Dr. Lal Wijenayake, Damayanthi Hewage (masseur), and Damayanthi Jayathilaka (Operations Manager)
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