Sydney has recently successfully hosted the world's largest multi-sport event, ‘The World Masters Games 2009' with more than 28,000 competitors from 95 countries, competing in 28 different sports at 72 venues throughout Sydney from 10 October to 18 October in 2009. The World Masters Games is a significant international sports event which caters to people of all abilities.

Three Sri Lankan netball teams, the Colombo District Netball Association (CDNA) combined netball team, the Western province of Sri Lanka netball team and the Hatton National Bank netball team participated for the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games under different age categories. The majority of the team members were well known veteran netball players in Sri Lanka and have participated in Masters Games previously.

The 12 member CDNA team: Amara Nanayakkara (Captain), Sanoja Bibile (Vice Captain), K.H. Wanniarachchi, Thushari Dissanayake, Tamara Seekubadu, Subani Udawatte, Sandya Wickramasinghe,  Lakmini Samarasinghe, Anusha Mayurenee, Premalatha Wickramasinghe, successfully completed the masters games for the above 35 years division . They played all the games at Anne Clark Netball Centre, Lidcombe and the team c oach Tissa Dissanayake who worked hard for the players maintained their fitness very well. The CDNA team was sponsored by Sri Lankan telecom and the Peoples Bank of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Consul General in Sydney Mr Dayasiri Fernando was a guest during the presentation of a special gift awarded by the NSW netball association to the CDNA team for their efforts.

The officials Mrs Yasmin Dharmarathnae, the former general secretary and deputy president of the Netball Federation of Sri Lanka and well known Sri Lankan netball figure Padma G. Baddewela also participated as team manager and the game Umpire respectively.

Mrs. Darmarathne further said “We have successfully participated in this tournament and our players have gained a lot of experience by participating in such an event. We are very grateful to Dr Mahesh Bandara and to the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Sydney Mr. Dayasiri Fernando for their encouragement and support throughout the tournament. We would also like to thank the supporters in the Sri Lankan Sydney community who help us greatly during our stay.”

Click here to see an album of 16 photographs by Mahesh Bandara