COLOMBO, August 19 (ePRESS) – Veteran playmaker Srinath Sooriyabandara will continue as Sri Lanka Sevens captain, leading a Kandy SC-heavy 12-member squad at the opening leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026 in Suzhou, China, on August 29 and 30.
Sooriyabandara’s Kandy SC teammate Kavindu Perera has been named vice-captain, while eight players from the reigning domestic rugby powerhouse have been included in the touring squad.
Sri Lanka will head to China under New Zealand head coach Peter Woods, with the first leg offering an important early test against Asia’s leading Sevens nations.
Sooriyabandara remains one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced Sevens players and his leadership will be important as the side looks to make a strong start to this year’s Asian series.
The strong Kandy SC presence is a major feature of the squad. Apart from Sooriyabandara and Perera, Akash Madusanka, Chathura Soysa, Diluksha Dange, Shaahid Zumri, Dinal Ekanayake and Gayan Perera have earned places in the touring party.
CR and FC will provide three players, with Naveen Marasinghe, Ravindu Anjula and Pasindu Bandara selected, while Jayathu Rajarathne of Havelock SC completes the 12-member squad.
Janidu Dilshan of CH and FC, Gamunu Chethiya of CR and FC and Nilesh Raghavan of Kandy SC have been named as standby players.
The Suzhou tournament will be the first major assignment for the Sri Lankan Sevens side in this year’s Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series and will give Woods an opportunity to test his combination against strong regional opposition.
Sri Lanka will also have the advantage of playing the second leg on home soil in Colombo on October 17 and 18, giving local rugby fans a chance to watch the national Sevens side in action.
Sri Lanka touring squad
Akash Madusanka (Kandy SC), Chathura Soysa (Kandy SC), Diluksha Dange (Kandy SC), Naveen Marasinghe (CR and FC), Ravindu Anjula (CR and FC), Srinath Sooriyabandara (Captain, Kandy SC), Shaahid Zumri (Kandy SC), Kavindu Perera (Vice-Captain, Kandy SC), Dinal Ekanayake (Kandy SC), Pasindu Bandara (CR and FC), Jayathu Rajarathne (Havelock SC), Gayan Perera (Kandy SC).
Standby: Janidu Dilshan (CH and FC), Gamunu Chethiya (CR and FC), Nilesh Raghavan (Kandy SC).
Head Coach: Peter Woods (New Zealand).
