In a bid to find the next Women’s team Coach, Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has thus far interviewed five Candidates. The post is vacated after Hemantha Devapriya resigned last month citing the poor performance of the team in the recently concluded Asia Cup. Later, Devapriya was appointed as the manager of the Sri Lanka U19 Team.
Sri Lanka’s newly appointed High Performance Manager Asanka Gurusinha interviewed the candidates in last few days. Here are the five candidates, SLC has interviewed so far :
Sampath Hetteriachi : A relative of former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala, currently he is the incharge of Brain Centre. Last year he was in the center of a controversy after attending Sri Lanka National Team meeting, even after being an outsider. After the departure of Sumathipala, his days at brain centre are numbered, so has applied for Women’s team Coach post.
Saman Jayantha : Played for Sri Lanka Team, he has been the Coach of the Bloomfield for last two years. he has been associated with SLC as district and provincial coach and also works at HNB.
Mahesh Weerasinghe : A close associate of Sri Lanka controversial international venues incharge Godfrey Dabrera, he is the Coach of Ragama CC. Last Year, during a match between Ragama CC and Chilaw Marians at Tamil Union Ground, before the play of the day grass from the pitch were mysteriously cut off. After that incident, Ragama Players Protested against him.
Mathumudalige Pushpkumara : former Sri Lanka player, has been the Coach of Colts Cricket Club Since last five years.
Harsha De Silva : A former Coach of Sri Lanka players Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne at St. Joseph College, he is the front runner to take over the position. He has been living in Australia since last four years and has the backing of Sri Lanka’s Top officials. He had applied for Sri Lanka U19 Team Coach as well, but at the last moment, Hashan Tillakaratne knocked out with the backing of former SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala and ‘Mysteriously’ got the job even without applying. After that, SLC assured Harsha De Silva that he would get Women’s team Coach position.
