Sri Lanka’s Ishanka Abeykoon named in 2026 Asia Rugby Elite Panel of Referees

Sri Lanka’s Ishanka Abeykoon has been included in the Asia Rugby’s Elite Panel of Referees.

Asia Rugby’s Elite Panel features 23 of the region’s leading match officials, entrusted with officiating premier competitions across Asia, including the Asia Rugby Emirates Championships.

Asia Rugby unveiled the Match Officials Panels for 2026, reinforcing its commitment to excellence, integrity, and the continued advancement of officiating across the continent.

The 2026 panels showcase the depth of talent within Asia, and they flag a strong “clearly-defined pathway from Development and Talent Identification through to Elite performance, supported by specialist panels in Television Match Officiating (TMO) and Coaching and Performance Review (CMO/PR),” Asia Rugby said in a statement.

In addition to Ishanka Abeykoon in the Elite Panel, Raveen Alexander has been included in the Talent Identification Panel.

Asia Rugby has included veteran Dilroy Fernando and Anil Jayasinghe in the Coach of Match Officials/Performance Reviewer Panel for the year 2026.

Commenting on the Elite Panel of Referees, Dilroy Fernando, Asia Rugby Referee Manager, said, “This year’s panels demonstrate the strength and depth of officiating talent within Asia. We are particularly encouraged by the growth of our female officials and the clear pathway from development through to elite performance. Our focus remains on continuous improvement, ensuring our match officials are prepared to perform on both regional and global stages.”