Sri Lankan Sports Minister in Male’ to watch Maldives-Lanka fixture

Sri Lankan Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa arrived in the Maldivian capital on Sunday morning, ahead of the fixture between Maldives and Sri Lanka in the SAFF Championship. 

Namal, the son of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, was greeted upon arrival at the Velana International Airport by Maldivian Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof. 

Sri Lanka has yet to score three points in a match in this year’s tournament – having lost 1-0 to Bangladesh in their first match, 2-3 to Nepal in their second match, and drawn 0-0 to India in their third. 

Defending champions Maldives, meanwhile, lost 1-0 to Nepal in their first match, but won 2-0 to Bangladesh in their second. 

Sri Lanka, which won the SAFF Championship back in 1995, is currently at the bottom of the table, and will need to return home with just one point if they lose against Maldives. 

The match will kick-off at the national football stadium in Male’ City at 16:00 hours. 

Namal is scheduled to return to Sri Lanka after the match, on Sunday evening.