Sumedha Malawana to coach Vidyartha next year

The ruggerite who learnt his rugby at Vidyartha College Sumedha Malawana has been given the duties of grooming his old school rugby team for the 2024 schools rugby season. Sumedha Malawana who has coached this school earlier is a well known figure in rugby.So, in the coming season Vidyartha College are sure to give their best for the oval shaped ball game under his guidance.

Sumedha Malawana who started his rugby at Vidyartha College was the vice captain in the year 1998, later played for Sri Lanka Navy from 2000 onwards for fourteen long years and played for Sri Lanka from 2002.; He is an experienced coach and a knowledgeable man in the rugby field. He played for Vidyartha College from 1986 to 1988.The last year was his best school year. Later went on to represent the Havelock SC from there he joined Navy in 2000 and played nearly fifteen years.

He also guided Navy as an assistant coach, his old school Vidyartha College and helped them to win matches and guided them with tremendous success with both in Sevens and Fifteens, Malawana played a vital role in their promotion to the ‘A’ Division a few years back. He also steered the Under18 Sevens team into making it to the finals under his coaching. From there he moved to St. Anthony’s College, taking up the position from Ronnie Ibrahim.

In the coming season the side will be led by Gayan Perera,and his deputy will be Desha Balasuriya both talented players who gave their best in the last season. Head coach Sumedha Malewana will be supported by backs coach Kavindu Perera, Trainer Kusal Chaminda Bandara and the team manger will be Upul Bandara Weerasinghe.

Vidyartha College, have produced some top rugby players in the recent past. This school was founded in 1942 and started their sports with football and hockey. It was in 1960’s that rugby was introduced to and thereafter, Kandy SC Committee of the early days helped them to find their feet by permitting the use of their grounds at Nittawela.

One of the first in the rugby field to hit the top was Tikiri. Banda.Wijesinghe, who soon after his school career played for Kandy Lake Club. From there, he was invited to play for the CR and FC and became the first from this school to play for the country followed by George Jayasena who started his club rugby with Kandy Lake Club, r Kandy SC, and later played for Uva Gymkhana Club, Up Country and Sri Lanka. In addition, Edwin “Viper” Gunaratne played forAir Force SC, Defence Services, CR and FC and Sri Lanka. They were the top class players in the early years. Later, Sunil Serasinghe played for Air Force SC, Defence Services, Kandy Lake Club, Kandy SC, Uva Gymkhana Club, Up country and the Sri Lanka President’s XV. One of the famous players was Charles WijewardenA who first played for Air Force SC after school and later for Police SC, CR and FC, Kandy SC, Up country and Sri Lanka.

Some of the others who played top rugby were Z. M. Zarook, R. M.Lafir, Sunil Perera, Sunil Munasinghe, Gamage Ariyaratne, Lakshman Samarawijeya, D. G. Dayaratne, G. Chandra, M. Rizvi, Nimal Malagamuwa, Athula Manchanayake, Anil Jayasinghe, Kumar Meeriyagala, Sumedha Malawana, Dilan Ekanayake, Danushka Pushpakumara, Saliya Kumara, Nilan Ekanayake Pradeep Wilson Jason Dissanayake Radeesha Seneviratne, Chanaka Chandimal, Charith Seneviratne, Kavindu Perera and Ashan Bandara.

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