This year’s main domestic tennis competition, the Sri Lanka Nationals which has a prestigious history of nearly hundred years, will be held at the SL Tennis Association hard courts in Colombo from August 29 to September 13.

The entries for this event will close on August 21. The Tournament Referee will be Avantha Suranimala.

As a tradition, the Nationals will be held subsequent to the annual Junior Nationals which is to be held at the same venue from August 15-30. The entries for the Junior National closed on August 8.

1. Women’s and Men’s Open Singles and Doubles, and Mixed Doubles

2. Over-40 Mixed Doubles

3. Over-45, 55 and 65 Men’s Singles and Doubles

4. Over-70 Men’s Doubles.

Twelve men and 10 women are listed as our most outstanding players down the ages purely on their achievements at the Sri Lanka National Tennis Championships.

Their individual performances are given in the table and the order of their names does not reflect any priority. Comparisons are subjective in the Nationals as factors such as the Second World War years interrupting players’ careers or their not participating due to illness or being abroad, the participation of top foreign players in certain years and the number of participants in the events, have all influenced the records of the players.

Some of the top players participating in this year’s Nationals will be Jayendra Wijeysekera, Harshana Godamanna, Rajeev Rajapakse and Rohan de Silva.

Tabulated as Name, Singles Titles, Doubles Tiles, Mixed Doubles Tiles, Total Titles, Triple Crowns

O.M.L. Pinto 7, 7, 9, 23, 2

Arjun Fernando 6, 7, 0, 13, 0

R. Ferdinands 4, 4, 5, 13, 2

F.J. Coo de Saram 3, 6, 1, 10, 1

H.C. Sansoni 2, 3, 2, 7, 0

Other Top Players: B.L. Pinto, E. de Fonblanque, D.E. Kelly, G.O. Nicholas, C.I. Gunasekara, Lasantha Fernando and P.S. Kumara

Doreen Sansoni 7, 4, 8, 19, 2

Ranjani Jayasuriya 4, 8, 3, 15, 3

Sheila Roberts 5, 0, 3, 8, 0

G.D.H. Alston 7, 5, 1, 13, 0

Manisha Perera 4, 3, 2, 9, 0