Golfer Chanaka Perera out to give of his best in Indian Tourney

In a remarkable journey from the greens of DS Senanayake College to the international stage, Chanaka Perera, aged 29, is preparing to represent Sri Lanka at the 122nd Amateur Championship of India. Perera, the country’s top-ranked golfer for the past few years, has been with Certis Lanka for seven years, where he not only works but also finds unwavering support for his golfing aspirations.

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Perera credits the late Sanka Wijesinghe, former Certis Lanka founder Chairman, for offering him a job in 2015, a move that paved the way for his golfing success. Now, under the leadership of Chairman Asanthi Wijesinghe and with the involvement of the Wijesinghe family, Certis Lanka continues to be Perera’s pillar of strength.

“I owe my entire golfing journey to the Wijesinghe family. If they hadn’t given me the opportunity, I wouldn’t be playing golf right now,” says Perera emotionally. Having joined Certis Lanka at the age of 22, Perera, currently a Senior Sales Executive, emphasizes the company’s role in providing him the freedom to focus on his sport. His golf equipment, valued at over Rs 1 million, has been generously sponsored by Certis Lanka, enabling him to compete at the highest level.

Ranked 599th in the world, Perera proudly holds Sri Lanka’s top position. Earlier this year, he represented the nation at the Royal Melbourne Golf Tournament in Australia, a testament to his growing international recognition. Perera will take part the tour with emerging star Reshan Algama, who won the National Ranking Tournament in Digana last week. Reflecting on the upcoming All India 122nd Amateur Golf Tournament, Perera recognizes the financial challenges faced by professional golfers, especially for tours in India. Undeterred, he aspires to turn professional in the coming years.

Perera extends his gratitude to individuals such as Maneth Jayasinghe, Jason Liyanage, Nick Perera, Tony Pathirana, Priyantha Athukorale, Nalaka Fernando, Mohan Liyanage, Sean Ekanayake, Haren Udeshi, and others who have been instrumental in his journey, in addition to Certis Lanka.

As he prepares for the tournament in Kolkata, Perera acknowledges the support of his playing club, Royal Colombo Golf Club, and the officials of Sri Lanka Golf, who have been constant companions throughout his golf career.

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