Top seeds gear up for Ceylon Masters Badminton Championships

Sri Lanka's leading veteran badminton players will be joined by a strong contingent of top masters shuttlers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Switzerland at the Ceylon Masters Badminton Championships 2026, which will be held from June 25 to 28 at the Air Sports Complex in Rajagiriya, on the outskirts of Colombo.

The five-day tournament is expected to attract some of the region's most accomplished masters players, with former national champions, international competitors and seasoned veterans set to battle for honours across a range of age-group singles and doubles events.

The presence of several leading overseas players is expected to add further quality and competition to the championship.

Among the standout names in the men's singles competition are former Sri Lanka international Niluka Karunaratne, who tops the Men's Singles 35 category, Hasitha Chanaka (MS 40), Subash De Silva (MS 50), Nihal Amarasena (MS 55) and Niroshan Wijekoon (MS 60).

India will also have a strong presence with Deane Maliq heading the MS 65 category and Anand Ghate leading the MS 75 division.

The men's doubles events will showcase several experienced partnerships, including Roshan Kumara and Supun Lakranga in MD 35, Laksman Perera and Sameera Sankalpa in MD 40, and Hiruna Dissanayake alongside Samantha Jayawardane in MD 45.

Samantha Cad and Mangala Gamage will be the top seeds in MD 50, while Shazly Oowise and Rifky Shafie lead the MD 100+ category.

Former national star Karunaratne will also partner Rohan De Silva in the MD 110+ event.

In the women's competition, Nadeesha Gayanthi heads the Women's Singles 35 category, while Chandrika De Silva, Vipuli Seneviratne and India's Jyothi Thathapanada top the WS 50, WS 55 and WS 60 divisions respectively.

The women's doubles draw will feature leading combinations including Ishara Dias and Peushani Silva (WD 35), Thushari Brahmanage and Chandrika De Silva (WD 50), and Kaushai Dissanayake with Vipuli Seneviratne (WD 55).

Nadeesha Gayanthi and Switzerland's Krishna Matter will spearhead the WD 100+ category, while Sandamali Senannayake and Christine Udalagama are the top seeds in WD 110+.

Organisers expect a highly competitive tournament with a strong mix of former national champions, international masters players and experienced veterans, providing badminton fans with an opportunity to witness some of the sport's most accomplished players in action.