D.S.Senanayake College in Colombo 08, is enjoying an excellent rugby season. The team remains unbeaten after three consecutive victories in the Dialog ‘A’ Division School League Rugby Tournament. They triumphed over Dharmaraja College with a score of 44-12, edged out Trinity College 14-10, and secured a solid win against St Anthony’s College Kandy,by 30-17.
Last season, DS Senanayake College also had an impressive run, defeating several strong teams, including S Thomas’ College by 13-10, Kingswood College, Wesley College, and St Anthony’s College Kandy. The team was led by winger Jayathu Rajaratne. Two years ago, they achieved a significant milestone by winning the Schools ‘A’ Division Rugby Sevens title, emerging joint champions with Vidyartha College Kandy in the final played at Nittawela. Additionally, the school produced a Sri Lanka Sevens player, Dinupa Seneviratne.
DS Senanayake College was promoted to the ‘A’ Division League only last year after being relegated to the ‘B’ Division about a decade ago. One of their greatest achievements in rugby dates back to 1988 when they defeated a strong Isipathana College team 4-0 at Havelock Park.
This year, the team is led by fly half cum centre Sehanda Umagiliyage, with Number Eight Thiven Perera as the deputy skipper. Other key players include seniors like centre and wing three-quarter Janindu Wijayaratne, prop forward Omika Lison, flanker-hooker Lankesh Wickramasinghe, second row-number eight Timath Jithnula, and wing three-quarter Malith Samarakoon.
Head Coach Asela Deshapriya has been instrumental in transforming the team into a formidable outfit capable of challenging any opponent. The coaching staff also includes Dinesh de Silva as the backs coach, Ashane Dassanayake as the assistant coach, Azmir Fajurdeen as the forwards coach, Charith Seneviratne as the kicking coach, Senaka de Silva as the physiotherapist, and Samod Madulanka as the assistant trainer. Sunil Jayantha serves as the team manager.
The upcoming matches for DS Senanayake College will be challenging. They face Science College on July 7 at Ratmalana and S Thomas’ College on July 13 at Mount Lavinia. The team will also play against Isipathana on July 21 at Sugathadasa Stadium and Sri Sumangala College Kandy on July 27 at Havelock Park.
With a dedicated coaching staff, DS Senanayake College is set to continue their impressive performance in the league. The rugby community eagerly anticipates their upcoming matches.
The DS Senanayake College rugby pool for 2024:
Sehanda Umagiliyage (captain fly half/centre), Vice captain Thiven Perera (Number 8), Omika Lison (prop), Janidu Wijayaratne(centre/wing three quarter), Malith Samarakoon (wing three quarter), Chamod Dewmith (flanker), Sahas Balasooriya (flanker), Pathum Peiris (prop/second row), Chamith Nilusha (Scrum half), Chenitha Weligamage (Prop), Thenula de Silva (centre), Navida Hettiarachchi (prop/second row), Chamudu Weerasinghe (second row/flanker), Malan de Mel (Wing three quarter), Lankesh Wickramasinghe (Flanker/hooker), Sandeep Lakshan (Wing three quarter), Methila Peiris (flanker), Rasindu Bandara (full back/flyhalf), Mohamed Sabeer (scrum half/wing), Chamitha Nilusha (scrum half), Thenula de Silva (centre), Praveen Lakmal (hooker), Tharuth Shenal (Second row), Kinith Gimhan (scrum half), Pawan Lihara (scrum half), Dushal Ayeshmantha (wing three quarter/centre), Tatheera Dahamdiv (fly half/centre), Sanu Perera (Number eight/flanker), Geethma Methul (flanker), Yerash Bumuddaka (flanker/second row), Buddhi Peiris (hooker/flanker), Thimath Jithnula (second row/Number 8), Chamika Gimhana (prop/second row), Lithum Weerasinghe (scrum half/fly half), Sathila Rumeth (second row), Yasanda Dinan (wing three quarter), Yuhas Balasooriya (second row/flanker), Mohommad Ishan (second row/flanker), Kaveesha Jananjaya (flanker).
SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
