COLOMBO: (ePRESS) – Megumi Kularathna, a 12-year-old swimmer from Ghefari Dulapandan Swim School (GDSC), has made a historic entry into the Sri Lanka National Swimming Squad, becoming the youngest swimmer to be selected. Her remarkable achievement follows her record-breaking performance at the recent National and Junior National Short Course Swimming Nationals, where she became the youngest female swimmer to break the 200m butterfly junior national record for Sri Lanka.
Megumi earned an impressive 435 FINA points for her efforts, securing a spot in the 50-member squad, which includes both men and women. This achievement not only marks a significant milestone in her young career but also places her among some of the best swimmers in the country, including Olympians Kyle Abeysinghe and Ganga Senevirathne, who lead the men’s and women’s squads, respectively, with 756 and 710 FINA points.
The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) has introduced an exemption for selected swimmers in the national squad. These athletes will not need to compete in time trials for selection until the 2025 National Long Course Championships. Instead, they are automatically selected for overseas open category and age group international competitions.
This exemption allows the squad members to focus on international exposure and competitive experience, without the added pressure of local trials. However, swimmers must still achieve qualifying times to be eligible for these overseas competitions. Those who wish to compete in World Aquatics-sanctioned events at their own expense are allowed to do so, with the condition that they are accompanied by a federation official.
In light of Double Olympian 28-year-old Matthew Abeysinghe’s retirement, the SLASU has updated the men’s squad after the SC Nationals, removing him from the squad and considering the next highest world aquatics points scorer. The final National Swimming Squad for 2025/2026 will be confirmed after the National Long Course Swimming Championships in 2025, with results from upcoming competitions influencing the final selections.
Men’s Squad:
1. Kyle Abeysinghe (KWA) 756
2. Akalanka Peiris 755
3. Kavindra Nugawela (KWA) 663
4. Binura Thalagala (KWA) 656
5. Dilanka Shehan (WA Scholarship Holder) 655
6. Disandu Himsara (KWA) 652
7. Sebastian Fernando (SIS) 651
8. MF Muhammad (Zahira) 638
9. Sandev Senaratne (Army) 636
10. Panduka Rason (Triton) 630
11. Kaveesha Silva (GDSC) 609
12. Aasif Imran (SIS) 604
13. Chris Pavithra (Police) 600
14. SC Samarasinghe (Trinity) 600
15. Nic de Silva (Lyceum Wattala) 597
16. Yonal de Silva (Lyceum Wattala) 595
17. Okitha Gunasekera (EMS) 594
18. Vinul Senanayake (KWA) 590
19. TV Kukunawala (AC) 584
20. Adeetha Siriwardena (KWA) 579
21. Yashith Wijesundara (SIS) 571
22. Charan Rupesinghe (KWA) 567
23. Akash Prabashwara (SJC) 555
24. Shaqib Riyaj (SIS) 550
25. Gavin Karunanayake (Army) 540
26. Abdur Rahman Faham (GDSC) 532
Women’s Squad
1. Ganga Seneviratne (KWA) 710
2. Ramudi Samarakoon (KWA) 654
3. Hiruki de Silva (KWA) 652
4. Minagi Rupesinghe (KWA) 642
5. Kaitlyn de Zilva (SIS) 603
6. Christina Perumal (AIS) 603
7. Seya Kariyawasam (GDSC) 582
8. Jessie Seneviratne (HFC, Bambalapitiya) 579
9. Vandani Fernando (Kalutara Balika) 573
10. Lehara Melegoda (Anula Vidyalaya) 562
11. Dinali Karunadasa (Visakha) 555
12. Nawanjana Siriwardena (Lyceum Wattala) 551
13. Julie Daniella Hope (Cyclone Aquatics) 519
14 Seneshi Herath (CSA) 539
15. Sithuki Yonara (AIS) 533
16. Chanudi Kumarapperuma (Lyceum Nugegoda) 522
17. Sheraya Amarasekara (KWA) 517
18. Pamudi Jayarathne (KWA) 507
19. Rushalee Dissanayake (Musaeus) 492
20. Amaiah Rasool (SBC) 439
21. Megumi Kularathna (GDSC) 435
22. Dinagi Methnuli Gamage (Visakha) 432
