COMMANDER’S CUP – 2025 CONCLUDES AT PICTURESQUE EAGLES GOLF LINKS IN CHINA BAY
The Sri Lanka Air Force and the Eagles’ Golf Links hosted the Commander’s Cup - 2025 Annual Golf Tournament, which was concluded today (18 January 2025) in the picturesque settings of China Bay, close to the harbour city of Trincomalee. This year’s tournament was powered by Dialog Enterprise as the Exclusive Main Sponsor which made it much more glamorous and memorable for the participants.
The tournament, played under ‘Handicap rules’ was open to all and started off at 0700 hrs with the participation of more than one hundred and twenty (120) enthusiastic golfers from both local and foreign. The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, participated for the first Tee-Off signifying the start of the tournament.
Wing Commander Lakmal Gunawardhana (Retd) won the Commander's Cup trophy, securing the highest marks in the Gents category, while Dr. Pravina Dunuwille won the Ladies' Trophy. Mr. Lamidu Rainika secured the Runners-Up position in the Gents Category while Ms. Roshini Sangani secured the Ladies’ Runners-Up position. Mr. Lamidu Rainika and Lieutenant Commander Rajinder Singh received the awards for the longest drive and the nearest to the pin in the Gents’ Category, while Dr. Praveena Dunuwille and Ms. Frank De Mel took the honours for the longest drive and the nearest to the pin, respectively, in the Ladies’ Category. Mr. Lamidu Rainika adjudged the Six Hidden Holes Award. The Wooden Spoon was received by Mr. Shilanka Fernando. To encourage participation from lower handicappers, two awards for "Gross Winner" were also included for both men’s and women’s categories. Mr. Lamidu Rainika secured the award for the Gross Winner in the Men’s category while Ms. Niloo Jayathilake received the award for the Gross Winner in the Women’s category.
The Eagles’ Challenge Trophy presented to members of the Tri-Services (Men’s Category) was won by Group Captain Chrishantha Fernando and for the first time, the Eagles' Challenge Trophy for the Women's Category was clinched by Wing Commander Lakshmi Kotuwegoda from the Sri Lanka Air Force. Air Commodore Erandika Gunawardhana emerged as the Runner-Up for the Eagles’ Challenge Trophy in Men’s Category while Captain Saumya Ranahansala from the Sri Lanka Army took the Runner-Up from Women’s Category. Group Captain Chrishantha Fernando secured the award for the longest drive, and Group Captain Chandu Chandrasekara secured the award for the nearest to the pin in the Eagles’ Challenge Trophy segment.
The awards of this year’s Commander’s Cup—2025 were given away at a gala Awards Ceremony held at ‘Club House’ during the evening of the same day. The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), along with his lady, Dr. Rasika Perera, graced this year’s tournament. The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, attended as the Guest of Honour.
The Main Exclusive Sponsor, Group Chief Officer of Dialog Enterprise, Mr. Navan Pieris, past Commanders of the Air Force participated as special guests for this year’s edition of the Commander’s Cup Awards Ceremony.
All participants of the tournament departed the scenic China Bay today (19 January 2025) with a load of fun-filled memories from this year’s event, which is a milestone as the 12th iteration of the Commander’s Cup Golf Tournament.
The tournament, played under ‘Handicap rules’ was open to all and started off at 0700 hrs with the participation of more than one hundred and twenty (120) enthusiastic golfers from both local and foreign. The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, participated for the first Tee-Off signifying the start of the tournament.
Wing Commander Lakmal Gunawardhana (Retd) won the Commander's Cup trophy, securing the highest marks in the Gents category, while Dr. Pravina Dunuwille won the Ladies' Trophy. Mr. Lamidu Rainika secured the Runners-Up position in the Gents Category while Ms. Roshini Sangani secured the Ladies’ Runners-Up position. Mr. Lamidu Rainika and Lieutenant Commander Rajinder Singh received the awards for the longest drive and the nearest to the pin in the Gents’ Category, while Dr. Praveena Dunuwille and Ms. Frank De Mel took the honours for the longest drive and the nearest to the pin, respectively, in the Ladies’ Category. Mr. Lamidu Rainika adjudged the Six Hidden Holes Award. The Wooden Spoon was received by Mr. Shilanka Fernando. To encourage participation from lower handicappers, two awards for "Gross Winner" were also included for both men’s and women’s categories. Mr. Lamidu Rainika secured the award for the Gross Winner in the Men’s category while Ms. Niloo Jayathilake received the award for the Gross Winner in the Women’s category.
The Eagles’ Challenge Trophy presented to members of the Tri-Services (Men’s Category) was won by Group Captain Chrishantha Fernando and for the first time, the Eagles' Challenge Trophy for the Women's Category was clinched by Wing Commander Lakshmi Kotuwegoda from the Sri Lanka Air Force. Air Commodore Erandika Gunawardhana emerged as the Runner-Up for the Eagles’ Challenge Trophy in Men’s Category while Captain Saumya Ranahansala from the Sri Lanka Army took the Runner-Up from Women’s Category. Group Captain Chrishantha Fernando secured the award for the longest drive, and Group Captain Chandu Chandrasekara secured the award for the nearest to the pin in the Eagles’ Challenge Trophy segment.
The awards of this year’s Commander’s Cup—2025 were given away at a gala Awards Ceremony held at ‘Club House’ during the evening of the same day. The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), along with his lady, Dr. Rasika Perera, graced this year’s tournament. The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, attended as the Guest of Honour.
The Main Exclusive Sponsor, Group Chief Officer of Dialog Enterprise, Mr. Navan Pieris, past Commanders of the Air Force participated as special guests for this year’s edition of the Commander’s Cup Awards Ceremony.
All participants of the tournament departed the scenic China Bay today (19 January 2025) with a load of fun-filled memories from this year’s event, which is a milestone as the 12th iteration of the Commander’s Cup Golf Tournament.