\”The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team\”
Basketball, which was first played in 1891 has evolved to be a highly popular sport embraced by many enthusiasts worldwide.
It is a game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent\’s goal, an elevated hoop and net called a basket. It is an extremely complex game physically, which allows players with all sorts of abilities to flourish.
In the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, basketball is a very famous team sport which is equipped with skillful players who have consistently brought glory throughout the years. The team strives and envisions to set standards in the Sri Lanka university basketball arena.
The men\’s team has managed to sweep several championships over the years. The team won the SLUG Championship for the first time in 2016 and continued to defend their title for the fourth consecutive time in SLUG 2019. This was remarkable due to the fact that it was the first time in history a university won four championships in a row.
Sachin Wijayasinghe and Achini Ishani led the men\’s team and women\’s team respectively in SLUG 2019 as they championed both categories in two exhilarating finals.
The women\’s team emerged victorious as Champions from 2013 to 2019 with the exception of year 2018 where they became Runner- Up. They have also achieved prestige through other external events including the Invitational 3×3 tournament organized by KDU in 2017.
Our players have managed to gain recognition both nationally and internationally.
Sanju Jayarathna is currently playing for Sri Lanka Police and Lahiru Perera plays for Sri Lanka Navy while being a member of the National Basketball team squad, having represented Sri Lanka in Under-18 South Asian Basketball Championship in 2014. Moreover, a former captain Charith Perera was a silver medalist in the South Asian Games 2019 as Sri Lanka Basketball clinched a medal at SAG after 28 years.
Dinuja Caldera, Achini Ishani and Anjalee Peramunugama from the women\’s team represented the Sri Lanka university team in 2016 while Harindi Diaz and Nipuni Maheshika represented the same in 2019.
Current captain Kaveetha Divyanjali represented the Youth National team from 2011 to 2013 and she also represents Sri Lanka Navy along with teammate Pavani Weerasekara.
Furthermore, Diyuni Abeysinghe also represented the National Basketball team in the years 2011 to 2013.
In 2016, the Basketball Association of Japura joined hands with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation in organizing the first ever 3×3 Inter University Basketball tournament to be held every two years.Teams from Japura were able to secure both the men\’s and women\’s trophies in the inaugural tournament.
Behind every fearless player is a fearless coach who refused to let them be anything but the best they can be.Mr. Channa Perera as the coach of the men\’s team and Mr. Tharindu Fernando as the coach of the women\’s team have always been determined and dedicated to build up courage and confidence in the young team.Mr. Lahiru Dilankara who acts as the instructor of the team has also been an inspiration and constant motivation.
We wish all the strength and courage to Japura Basketball to reach greater heights and elevate the name of Mother Japura sky high.
Written by: Thivanka Seneviratne
Designed by: Jithmi Rajapaksha