Dr. Sankalpana ready to make Sri Lanka proud at Rugby World Cup

With the Rugby World Cup ready to kick off, a large number of Sri Lankan Rugby fans will be keenly watching the games either at the venues in Japan or on TV from across the world. While these fans cheer their favorite teams and players, most would not know, that there is one Sri Lankan who will be a part of the World Cup in Japan.

Dr. Namith Sankalpana will be a proud Sri Lanka when he runs on to the field as a Match Day Doctor for the World Cup opener between host Japan and Russia at the Tokyo Stadium.

Dr. Sankalpana has put in a lot of hard work over the last few years to get qualified for this position. He has been closely involved with rugby, currently holding the positions of Chief Medical officer (SLR), Chairman Medical Committee (SLR) and Team physician of the national (Men’s and Women's) rugby team.

Dr. Sankalpana is currently employed at the Sports and Exercise Medicine Unit of the National Hospital in Sri Lanka as the Medical Officer in Charge. A graduate from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dr. Sankalpana completed his Postgraduate studies in Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of Colombo. A product of Nalanda College, he was involved in water sports during his school days as a swimming captain and Water Polo player.

Dr. Sankalpana has completed the World Rugby 'Immediate care in Rugby" Level 2 course in Japan in 2016. He became a World Rugby Medical Educator by completing the 'World Rugby course' in 2017 in Dubai, becoming the first Medical Educator in the South Asia Region. In 2018, he completed the World Rugby 'Advance Immediate Care in Rugby - Level 3' course in Singapore. In November 2018 he went to London, UK representing Asia Rugby as the Asia Rugby delegate to attend the World Rugby Medical Commission Conference. There he completed the 'World Rugby Medical Trainer' course and got qualified as a World rugby medical trainer which enabled him to deliver World Rugby Level 2 and Level 3 courses on behalf of World Rugby. 

Due to his accomplishments and commitment, he was appointed to the Asia Rugby Medical Committee known as "MedCom" in January 2018, and is currently the Regional Head for players Welfare in the Asia South Region which includes Sri Lanka. Dr. Sankalpana was the only Sri Lankan Doctor to be appointed as a Match Day Doctor for the ‘Hong Kong Sevens’ tournament for consecutive years in 2018 and 2019.

Before leaving for Japan, Dr. Sankalpana said 'My greatest achievement in this field, is the selection as a Match Day Doctor for the Rugby World Cup 2019 which will be held in Japan. They have selected only 4 Doctors from Asia and I am the only one from Sri Lanka'.

Sri Lanka Rugby wishes Dr. Sankalpana a great Rugby World Cup.