Sri Lankan army has promoted Seekkuge Prasanna to the position of Warrant officer first class, and Asela Gunaratna to the position of Warrant Officer second class, based on their National Level performances.
“Warrant Officer - II Sekkuge Prasanna of the Sri Lanka national cricket team has been promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer- I (WO - I) by the Commander of the Army,” a statement said.
He displayed excellent performances in the South African tour and brought honour to the country and the Army, it said.
“Similarly, Sergeant Asela Gunaratne of the Sri Lanka national cricket team who excelled in the T-20 Australian Cricket Tournament - 2017 has been promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer - II (WO - II) by the Commander of the Army in recognition of his achievements.”
Warrant Officer - I (WO I) Seekkuge Prasanna was enlisted to the Army on 21 October 2003 and played his debut match on 13 May 2005, representing the Army Cricket Club.
To-date, he has played 98 first class matches and scored 3216 runs in 155 innings, scoring 18 half centuries. He had so far bagged 488 first class wickets and also had played 34 One Day International (ODI) cricket matches scoring 370 runs. To his credit, he also scored 2 half centuries and took 28 wickets in the ODI encounters.
Having played 14 matches in the field of T-20 encounters, he was able to score 130 runs gaining 8 wickets. He represented Sri Lanka ‘A’ Cricket Team tour of England 2011 and became the Second Cricketer to represent the National Cricket Team of the Sri Lanka Army in One Day series & Test series and played his debut matches against Australia in the year 2011.
In the same year, he represented the ODI tour against Pakistan.
Warrant Officer - II (WO II) Asela Gunaratne joined the Sri Lanka Army on 06 January 2007 and played his debut on 10 December 2008.
He has so far played 74 First Class Matches and scored 4971 runs in 126 innings, scoring 23 half centuries and 12 centuries, having obtained 44 First Class wickets.
In his One Day International (ODI) cricket, he has played 10 matches scoring 222 runs with one century and secured 9 ODI wickets.
During his T-20 encounters, he after playing 7 matches, scored 168 runs taking 3 wickets and scored 2 half centuries.
He scored his debut 50 & 100 runs against Test series Zimbabwe -2016 and scored an ODI Century against South Africa - 2017.
His outstanding performances against Australia made him to be selected as Man of the Match award twice and also the Man of the Series as a result of his exceptional performances.
