Tuskers Fight Back to Fifth at the Colombo Sevens as Srinath Sooriyabandara Bows Out After 17 Years

Tuskers Fight Back to Fifth at the Colombo Sevens as Srinath Sooriyabandara Bows Out After 17 Years

AI-generated illustration. No authentic photograph of Srinath Sooriyabandara’s farewell is embedded.

Sri Lanka’s men’s sevens team finished fifth at the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2026 Leg 02 in Colombo, closing their home campaign with a 33–5 victory over Malaysia. The result also marked the final international sevens appearance of veteran scrum-half Srinath “Soori” Sooriyabandara, whose long service to the national side was recognised on home soil.

The Tuskers’ finish came after a demanding series of matches: two wins and a defeat in the pool stage, a narrow Cup quarter-final loss to China, and victories in both placement games. Sri Lanka’s women also ended their tournament with a win, overcoming Uzbekistan 19–15 in their final ranking fixture.

A farewell shaped by years of service

Sooriyabandara’s farewell gave the final match particular significance for Sri Lankan rugby. The Daily FT headline describes his international career as spanning 17 years, while The Morning reports that he served for 16 years. The accounts differ on the precise length, but both describe a career extending well over a decade and a half.

His final appearance came in a match in which Sri Lanka played with purpose and secured fifth place in front of the home crowd. The occasion marked the close of a sustained period of service, while offering a reminder of the commitment required to represent a national team across many seasons.

The moment also carried meaning beyond the final score. In sevens rugby, where matches are brief and momentum can shift quickly, experience and composure are invaluable. Sooriyabandara’s departure leaves younger players with a clear example of long-term dedication to the sport and the national jersey.

Pool-stage wins set the tone

Sri Lanka opened the Colombo leg with a 21–17 victory over the United Arab Emirates, then followed it with a 26–19 win against India. Those results gave the hosts a strong start to the group stage, although they were beaten 17–5 by Hong Kong China in their final pool match.

The result against Hong Kong China sent Sri Lanka into the Cup quarter-finals, where they faced China. The Tuskers began confidently: Nilesh Raghavan scored an early try, and Sooriyabandara later sliced through the defence before converting his own try to put Sri Lanka narrowly ahead.

China responded through Huanying Zheng and Haoxiang Ma, regaining control of the contest. Despite the Tuskers’ efforts, the quarter-final ended 26–19 in China’s favour, ending Sri Lanka’s Cup-title hopes for the Colombo leg.

A determined response in the placement matches

Sri Lanka’s campaign was not defined by that quarter-final defeat. In the fifth-place semi-final, the hosts regrouped to beat the UAE 26–10, with tries from Diluksha Dange, Kavindu Perera, Sooriyabandara and Gayan Perera.

The win set up a fifth-place final against Malaysia, and Sri Lanka produced their most decisive performance of the weekend. Maliksha Perera opened the scoring, while Pasindu Bandara, Diluksha Dange and Shaahid Zumri also crossed for tries as the Tuskers finished 33–5 ahead.

The final was a fitting setting for Sooriyabandara’s farewell: a home victory, earned by a team that had responded positively after a setback, and a fifth-place finish secured through successive wins. It was a collective result, with several players contributing to the scoreboard and the team’s late-tournament momentum.

Lady Tuskers finish on a winning note

Sri Lanka’s women faced a closely contested opening match against Malaysia, narrowly losing 10–5. Their ranking-stage campaign also included a default 20–0 win over Iran.

The Lady Tuskers then closed their home series with a 19–15 victory over Uzbekistan in the 9–12 ranking game. The win gave the team a positive ending to its Colombo campaign and demonstrated their ability to remain competitive through a challenging tournament schedule.

Colombo leg and series honours

Japan captured both the men’s and women’s Cup titles at the Colombo leg. Japan defeated Hong Kong China 28–14 in the men’s final and beat China 14–7 in the women’s final.

The overall series standings were separate from the results of the Colombo tournament. Japan secured the women’s series honours, while Hong Kong China finished level with Japan on 38 points in the men’s competition and claimed the series title on points difference: +363 to Japan’s +343.

Against that wider backdrop, Sri Lanka’s fifth-place finish represented a determined home performance, while the women’s closing victory provided another positive note for the host nation.

Sooriyabandara’s final appearance gave the weekend a personal milestone alongside its competition results. The Tuskers’ fifth-place finish, the women’s late win and the veteran’s farewell together formed a significant chapter in Sri Lankan sevens rugby. His lengthy service now stands as part of the sport’s continuing story, with the next generation set to carry that commitment forward.

Sources

• Daily FT: Sri Lanka Sevens fight back to 5th as Soori bows out after 17 years
• The Morning: Japan win Asia 7s Colombo series, Soori bids adieu. Muaard Razick
• ThePapare: Tuskers Claim Fifth Place as Japan Celebrate Double Cup Triumph

This article was written based on the source https://www.ft.lk/sports/Sri-Lanka-Sevens-fight-back-to-5th-as-Soori-bows-out-after-17-years/23-798801, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.

This article was written based on the source https://www.themorning.lk/articles/J7g8lpqpltl40kzocXeq, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.

This article was written based on the source https://www.thepapare.com/tuskers-claim-fifth-place-as-japan-celebrate-double-cup-triumph/, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.

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