By Harsha Amarasinghe

Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, who received praise following his part in organizing Sri Lanka’s first high profile T20 cricket league in eight years, has now opened the gates for third generation sports personalities to represent the country.

“I am more than happy to have sports personalities who are eligible to represent Sri Lanka. We should also remember they have the right to represent the country, so I have opened the gates, and would give my total support to make sure Sri Lanka sports benefit from possible sources. I’ve already noticed that the Football Federation of Sri Lanka and some other organizations have made great progress,” Rajapaksa told Daily Mirror.

Meanwhile, former Australia Under-20 rugby player Rowan Perry, who is eligible to represent Sri Lanka on the international stage, as he was born in Belihuloya, Sri Lanka in 1994, has accepted an invitation from Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) President Rizly Illyas to consider playing for the national team.

“I did contact Rowan Perry and I know he is a great player. He expressed that he is willing to play for Sri Lanka, but as of now due to the strict health guidelines neither Australia nor his family would let him come, but when the time is right he is willing to come to Sri Lanka,” SLR President Illyas told Daily Mirror.

The former Canberra Vikings and ACT Brumbies star Perry played one game for CR and FC a few years ago before a fractured finger ended his season.