Sri Lanka Mercantile and Government Service Chess Championships 2026

Open SwissStandard

109 players participated in this 7-round tournament, held from 27 Feb 2026 to 02 Mar 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 1 titled players. Top 10 Elo average was 1832, and top seed was C C Weerasinghe (🇱🇰 SRI, 1912).

Niranga Kandearachchi (🇱🇰 SRI, 1852) won with 6.0/7, ahead of H H Sasindu Lakshitha (6.0) and C C Weerasinghe (5.5). Kandearachchi shared the lead from round 5, winning on tie-break.

The biggest upset came in round 1: N W P K W Nanayakkara (1455) beat Krishna Rahul Jeyanthan (1777), a +322-point gap.

Location

🇱🇰Colombo, Sri Lanka

Dates

27 Feb 2026 → 02 Mar 2026

Time control

Standard: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1

System

Swiss · 7 rounds

Top seed

🇱🇰C C Weerasinghe1912

Avg top 10

1,832

Participants

109

Titled players · 1

WFM×1

Federations · 1 represented

🇱🇰Sri Lanka×86

Top 3

🥇
Niranga Kandearachchi
🇱🇰SRI·1852
6.0pts·2048perf+30.6
🥈
H H Sasindu Lakshitha
🇱🇰SRI·1855
6.0pts·2031perf+26.4
🥉
C C Weerasinghe
🇱🇰SRI·1912
5.5pts·1950perf+7.2

How it unfolded

Top 6 · 7 rounds

Tight race until R6; 2 players tied at 6.0/7, decided on Buchholz. Title race narrowed from 3 co-leaders at R4 to 2 at the finish.

Co-leaders

Kandearachchi6Lakshitha6Liyanapathirana5.5De Silva5.5Weerasinghe5.5Sheriff5.5

R6–R7 · LEAD HELD

Niranga Kandearachchi held the sole lead from R6 through R7 without losing it.

R7 · TIEBREAK CLUSTER

2 players finish on 6.0/7. Kandearachchi takes the title on Buchholz Cut1 (29.5).

WIN STREAKS · 3 top finishers

Niranga Kandearachchi 3 wins (R1–R3)H H Sasindu Lakshitha 4 wins (R1–R4)Pasan Vindula Liyanapathirana 3 wins (R1–R3)

Key matchups · top 4

Head-to-head between the four finishers

Player	1	2	3	4
1Niranga Kandearachchi	*	—	½	—
2H H Sasindu Lakshitha	—	*	—	½
3Pasan Vindula Liyanapathirana	½	—	*	—
4Elath Mathanga De Silva	—	½	—	*

Grille américaine

#	Player	Elo	Fed	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Pts	Bu C1	Bu	SB	Perf	Δ
1	Kandearachchi, Niranga	1852	SRI	+32B	+20N	+65B	=12N	+10B	+3N	=4B	6.0	29.5	32.5	27.25	2048	+30.6
2	Lakshitha, H H Sasindu	1855	SRI	+70N	+101B	+18N	+28B	=3B	=5N	+9B	6.0	27.5	28.5	23.00	2031	+26.4
3	Weerasinghe, C C	1912	SRI	+25N	+72B	+39N	+11B	=2N	−1B	+29B	5.5	29.0	31.5	22.50	1950	+7.2
4	Liyanapathirana, Pasan Vindula	1867	SRI	+36B	+37N	+17B	−10N	+42B	+12N	=1N	5.5	28.5	32.0	24.00	1942	+13.0
5	De Silva, Elath Mathanga	1843	SRI	+64N	+22B	−11N	+24B	+28N	=2B	+19N	5.5	28.5	31.5	23.50	1882	+6.6
6	Sheriff, T S	1795	SRI	=74B	+88N	+49N	+8B	=12B	+31N	=7N	5.5	25.5	27.5	21.00	1832	+7.6
7	Jeyanthan, Krishna Rahul	1777	SRI	−45B	+93N	+64B	+43N	+20B	+10N	=6B	5.5	25.0	26.5	20.25	1820	+8.4
8	Dipsara, K M Dumal Kavish	1674	SRI	+55B	+50N	=9B	−6N	+84B	+49N	+21B	5.5	24.0	26.0	18.00	1837	+25.6
9	Kandearachchi, Jayanga	1786	SRI	+38N	+24B	=8N	+63B	=19N	+11B	−2N	5.0	29.5	32.5	21.50	1818	+7.4
10	Madushanka, Harsha	1812	SRI	+27N	+53B	+41N	+4B	−1N	−7B	+17B	5.0	29.5	32.5	21.00	1875	+13.6
11	Menuka, Udara	1719	SRI	+77B	+33N	+5B	−3N	+13B	−9N	+31B	5.0	29.0	31.5	21.00	1829	+17.6
12	Deshappriya, D Kalindu	1771	SRI	+60N	+48B	+30N	=1B	=6N	−4B	+53N	5.0	27.0	30.0	18.75	1831	+13.6
13	Weerasinghe, Ruwan Prasanka	1585	SRI	+94B	−16N	+73B	+23N	−11N	+39B	+51N	5.0	23.0	24.5	15.00	1808	+35.6
14	Kanathipan, Thiruchelvan	1561	SRI	+71B	−17N	+78B	=62N	=39B	+42N	+63B	5.0	20.5	23.0	15.25	1781	+30.4
15	Hewawasam, Vishal	1522	SRI	F	+95N	=23B	=68N	+48B	+52N	+16B	5.0	19.5	19.5	15.75	1945	+106.4
16	Weerakoon, D D P	1784	SRI	+46N	+13B	−28N	+30B	+34N	=19B	−15N	4.5	26.5	30.0	18.75	1667	-18.4
17	Fonseka, C K D	1717	SRI	+104N	+14B	−4N	=25B	+32N	+72B	−10N	4.5	26.5	26.5	13.75	1712	+0.4
18	Peiris, H PevinyaWFM	1741	SRI	+40B	+35N	−2B	=48N	+57B	=29N	=20B	4.5	25.0	28.0	16.25	1711	-3.2
19	Arachchi, C S A	1633	SRI	+92N	+106B	+21N	=29B	=9B	=16N	−5B	4.5	25.0	25.0	12.75	1784	+20.0
20	Ushantha, R	1600	SRI	+97N	−1B	+83N	+54B	−7N	+56B	=18N	4.5	24.0	25.0	11.25	1517	-10.8
21	Ekanayake, A M B	1816	SRI	+69B	+43N	−19B	+84N	=72N	+22B	−8N	4.5	23.5	25.5	14.25	1688	-19.8
22	Bandara, R M V D	1616	SRI	+85B	−5N	+61B	=50N	+75B	−21N	+40B	4.5	22.0	24.0	12.50	1597	-5.2
23	Askey, Roshell Nathasha	1734	SRI	+90B	F	=15N	−13B	+83N	+30B	+35N	4.5	22.0	22.0	14.50	1657	-8.0
24	Gunarathna, D A Viraj Darshana	1590	SRI	+107B	−9N	+55B	−5N	+90B	=40N	+49B	4.5	22.0	22.0	9.75	1556	-5.2
25	Weerasinghe, M A Dinal Akilesh	1542	SRI	−3B	+79N	+71B	=17N	=62B	=65N	+72N	4.5	21.5	24.0	13.25	1733	+23.4
26	Jayawickrama, U W R K	1569	SRI	+86N	−39B	+59N	=41B	−69N	+44B	+73N	4.5	19.0	21.0	12.75	1512	-5.8
27	Guruge, Punsandu	1500	SRI	−10B	+85N	=76B	−80N	+88B	+75N	+43B	4.5	18.0	20.0	11.25	1741	+47.6
28	Tennakoon, I L K	1627	SRI	+73B	+47N	+16B	−2N	−5B	+33N	F	4.0	26.5	29.0	14.50	1766	+18.4
29	Priyadarshana, Y Danushka	1693	SRI	F	+74N	+45B	=19N	+40B	=18B	−3N	4.0	24.0	24.0	14.00	1732	+7.6
30	Siriwardene, R B Janaka Sampath	1576	SRI	+87B	+76N	−12B	−16N	+55B	−23N	+54B	4.0	22.5	24.5	10.50	1566	-0.8
31	Dilshara, T G Sachindu	1557	SRI	+75N	−42B	+106N	+58B	+51N	−6B	−11N	4.0	22.5	22.5	8.50	1628	+11.4
32	Marasinghe, Kasunka	1526	SRI	−1N	+92B	=75N	+44B	−17B	+78N	=62B	4.0	22.0	23.5	10.25	1492	-2.4
33	Kamala, Piruna	1562	SRI	+44N	−11B	+66N	−51B	+91N	−28B	+98N	4.0	20.5	21.5	9.50	875	-20.8
34	Mesandu, W M Senod	1558	SRI	+78B	=51N	+52B	=42N	−16B	=62N	=65B	4.0	20.0	22.5	11.75	1725	+26.4
35	Wimalaweera, K P K J	1566	SRI	+91N	−18B	−54N	+105B	+87N	+41B	−23B	4.0	19.5	19.5	7.50	1598	+5.2
36	Munidasa, Ruwan	1530	SRI	−4N	−59B	+92N	+97B	+76N	=51B	=58N	4.0	18.5	19.5	8.00	1729	+39.2
37	Dilshan, V D	1612	SRI	+105N	−4B	−60N	+99B	−56N	+59B	+80B	4.0	18.0	18.0	6.50	848	-37.2
38	Peiris, Dileepa Dilshan	1490	SRI	−9B	+96N	F	+98B	=58N	=48N	+52B	4.0	17.5	18.5	8.00	1693	+40.0
39	Rathgalla, J M C B	1753	SRI	+61B	+26N	−3B	F	=14N	−13N	+50B	3.5	26.0	26.0	13.00	1644	-14.2
40	Tharanga, R A R	1412	SRI	−18N	+86B	+53N	+82B	−29N	=24B	−22N	3.5	23.0	25.0	9.75	1578	+22.8
41	Abeysekara, A E	1698	SRI	+100B	+57N	−10B	=26N	=50B	−35N	=46B	3.5	23.0	24.0	9.50	1515	-59.2
42	Yatawala, Manushka	1687	SRI	+93B	+31N	F	=34B	−4N	−14B	+61N	3.5	23.0	23.0	10.50	1588	-13.2
43	Roshan, K	1590	SRI	+98N	−21B	+56N	−7B	=73N	+74B	−27N	3.5	22.5	23.5	7.75	1456	-18.4
44	Thanthrimudalige, Kasun Chathura	0	SRI	−33B	+?N	=57B	−32N	+45B	−26N	+84B	3.5	21.0	21.0	7.00	1458	0.0
45	Nanayakkara, N W P K W	1455	SRI	+7N	=68B	−29N	−49B	−44N	+104B	+103N	3.5	20.0	20.0	8.00	1572	+22.8
46	Thumulaweera, M G K S	1458	SRI	−16B	+107N	−58N	+67B	−53N	+87B	=41N	3.5	19.0	19.0	6.75	1354	-16.8
47	Sewwandi, De Muni Wathsala	0	SRI	+?N	−28B	−48N	−83B	+99N	+60B	=57N	3.5	16.0	16.0	5.50	1552	0.0
48	Katugampola, A H	1585	SRI	+67N	−12N	+47B	=18B	−15N	=38B	−56N	3.0	25.0	28.0	10.75	1437	-15.4
49	Silva, K Shenali Navodya	1526	SRI	F	+81N	−6B	+45N	+68B	−8B	−24N	3.0	24.5	24.5	9.00	1556	+6.4
50	Gamage, Thanushka	1487	SRI	+52N	−8B	+101N	=22B	=41N	−53B	−39N	3.0	23.0	24.0	8.00	1629	+47.6
51	Ananthanesan, Sathiyananthan	1697	SRI	+89N	=34B	F	+33N	−31B	=36N	−13B	3.0	23.0	23.0	10.00	1482	-54.0
52	Pitigala, Chandra Sudarman S.	1785	SRI	−50B	+89N	−34N	+59B	+60N	−15B	−38N	3.0	22.0	24.0	8.00	1257	-64.0
53	Wijenayake, C G	1606	SRI	F	−10N	−40B	+85N	+46B	+50N	−12B	3.0	22.0	23.0	8.50	1517	-25.2
54	Lagshan, Rathinavel	0	SRI	+58B	−63N	+35B	−20N	−64N	+76B	−30N	3.0	21.5	24.0	9.50	1563	0.0
55	Gunatilake, S A	0	SRI	−8N	+?B	−24N	+66B	−30N	+95B	−70N	3.0	21.5	21.5	4.50	1348	0.0
56	De Mel, Withanalage Sugath Duminda	0	SRI	F	−65N	−43B	+71N	+37B	−20N	+48B	3.0	21.0	21.0	10.00	1542	0.0
57	Jayanka, L P P R	1559	SRI	+66N	−41B	=44N	+74B	−18N	−73B	=47B	3.0	20.5	23.0	9.00	1400	-16.0
58	Ruwanpathirana, Priyantha	1617	SRI	−54N	F	+46B	−31N	=38B	+84N	=36B	3.0	20.5	20.5	9.50	1564	-6.6
59	Hureekaduwa, Desika Rangani	0	SRI	−63B	+36N	−26B	−52N	+94B	−37N	+106N	3.0	20.0	20.0	5.50	1388	0.0
60	Wickramasinghe, W A M M	1428	SRI	−12B	+94N	+37B	−72N	−52B	−47N	+105B	3.0	19.5	19.5	5.50	1505	+10.4
61	Sandanayake, N P P	1421	SRI	−39N	+67B	−22N	−87B	+86N	+91B	−42B	3.0	18.5	20.5	7.00	886	-22.4
62	Rajapaksha, A K	1726	SRI	+102N	F	F	=14B	=25N	=34B	=32N	3.0	18.5	18.5	9.75	1545	-19.0
63	Chanaka, Malintha	1658	SRI	+59N	+54B	F	−9N	+80B	F	−14N	3.0	18.5	18.5	8.50	871	-38.8
64	Tirimanna, Akila	1525	SRI	−5B	+103N	−7N	F	+54B	F	+66N	3.0	18.0	18.0	7.00	1010	-12.8
65	Karunanayake, H M	1686	SRI	+109N	+56B	−1N	F	F	=25B	=34N	3.0	17.5	17.5	7.25	1526	-12.8
66	Udayashantha, T M Dilan	0	SRI	−57B	+77N	−33B	−55N	+85B	+?N	−64B	3.0	17.5	17.5	4.50	747	0.0
67	FIDE 29994691	0	—	−48B	−61N	+93B	−46N	+92N	−70B	+83N	3.0	16.0	17.5	5.00	699	0.0
68	De Costa, Thanuri	1641	SRI	+79B	=45N	F	=15B	−49N	F	+90B	3.0	16.0	16.0	8.75	1371	-21.6
69	Yasanjith, M H Dinura	1513	SRI	−21N	+97B	F	+88N	+26B	F	F	3.0	16.0	16.0	7.50	1726	+16.2
70	Jegasingam , Jeyanthasingham	1528	SRI	−2B	−73N	F	F	+96B	+67N	+55B	3.0	15.5	15.5	7.00	841	-30.4
71	FIDE 80876587	0	—	−14N	+102B	−25N	−56B	+105N	+83B	−?N	3.0	15.5	15.5	3.00	755	0.0
72	Yapabandara, G G P D	1621	SRI	+99N	−3N	F	+60B	=21B	−17N	−25B	2.5	26.0	27.0	6.25	1534	-13.0
73	Katugampola, Anushanga	0	SRI	−28N	+70B	−13N	F	=43B	+57N	−26B	2.5	23.0	24.0	7.75	1516	+25.6
74	Karunarathne, D D W Gamini	1491	SRI	=6N	−29B	+95B	−57N	+81B	−43N	F	2.5	21.0	22.5	6.75	1335	-14.2
75	Wickrama, Gagash	0	SRI	−31B	+100N	=32B	F	−22N	−27B	+77N	2.5	20.5	20.5	5.50	1222	0.0
76	Wettasinghe, S V	1751	SRI	+83N	−30B	=27N	F	−36B	−54N	+99B	2.5	18.5	18.5	5.25	1262	-36.4
77	FIDE 29959586	0	—	−11N	−66B	−96B	=79N	+107B	+81N	−75B	2.5	16.5	16.5	3.75	919	0.0
78	Vithanage, Thareen	0	SRI	−34N	+104B	−14N	+108B	=?N	−32B	F	2.5	15.5	15.5	0.00	1412	0.0
79	FIDE 575005166	0	—	−68N	−25B	−86N	=77B	+89N	−100B	+104N	2.5	15.0	15.0	3.25	792	0.0
80	Chathura, Prabath	0	SRI	F	−82B	+?N	+27B	−63N	=?B	−37N	2.5	14.0	14.0	4.50	1517	0.0
81	Tennakoon, T M M B	0	SRI	=82N	−49B	−?N	+89B	−74N	−77B	+102N	2.5	13.5	13.5	4.25	1218	0.0
82	Vitharanage, Shamalka Navinda	1563	SRI	=81B	+80N	−84B	−40N	F	−98B	+97N	2.5	12.5	12.5	4.75	633	-54.4
83	Wijerathna, W Thilini Wathsala	1421	SRI	−76B	+87N	−20B	+47N	−23B	−71N	−67B	2.0	21.0	23.0	5.50	894	0.0
84	Perera, Eroshen	1431	SRI	F	+108B	+82N	−21B	−8N	−58B	−44N	2.0	19.0	19.0	2.50	1582	+30.4
85	FIDE 575005182	0	—	−22N	−27B	+102N	−53B	−66N	=92B	=89N	2.0	18.5	19.5	2.75	774	0.0
86	FIDE 575005220	0	—	−26B	−40N	+79B	−90N	−61B	−93N	+96B	2.0	17.0	18.0	3.50	666	0.0
87	FIDE 80884989	0	—	−30N	−83B	F	+61N	−35B	−46N	+?B	2.0	16.5	16.5	3.00	1313	0.0
88	Erathna, E W A S	1431	SRI	F	−6B	+108N	−69B	−27N	−103B	+92N	2.0	15.5	15.5	1.50	1409	-6.8
89	Chamika, M Vihanga	0	SRI	−51B	−52B	=94N	−81N	−79B	+96N	=85B	2.0	14.5	15.5	2.75	933	0.0
90	FIDE 575005115	0	—	−23N	F	F	+86B	−24N	+106B	−68N	2.0	14.0	14.0	2.00	855	0.0
91	Soysa, V C M	0	SRI	−35B	F	F	+104N	−33B	−61N	+100N	2.0	12.0	12.0	1.00	718	0.0
92	FIDE 575005174	0	—	−19B	−32N	−36B	+100N	−67B	=85N	−88B	1.5	19.5	20.5	2.00	730	0.0
93	FIDE 575005131	0	—	−42N	−7B	−67N	F	F	+86B	=95N	1.5	15.5	15.5	2.75	934	0.0
94	FIDE 575005212	0	—	−13N	−60B	=89B	F	−59N	−99B	+107N	1.5	14.0	14.0	1.00	707	0.0
95	FIDE 9953582	0	—	F	−15B	−74N	+102B	F	−55N	=93B	1.5	13.0	13.0	1.75	713	0.0
96	FIDE 575005204	0	—	F	−38B	+77N	−?B	−70N	−89B	−86N	1.0	16.5	16.5	2.50	728	0.0
97	FIDE 9940618	0	—	−20B	−69N	+100B	−36N	F	F	−82B	1.0	15.0	15.0	1.00	752	0.0
98	FIDE 29907446	0	—	−43B	F	F	−38N	F	+82N	−33B	1.0	14.0	14.0	2.50	1359	0.0
99	Kulatunga, Amaya	0	SRI	−72B	F	F	−37N	−47B	+94N	−76N	1.0	14.0	14.0	1.50	863	0.0
100	FIDE 575005255	0	—	−41N	−75B	−97N	−92B	F	+79N	−91B	1.0	13.0	13.0	2.50	898	0.0
101	Kumar, V Ushan	1620	SRI	+103B	−2N	−50B	F	F	F	F	1.0	12.5	12.5	1.00	870	-35.6
102	FIDE 80804918	0	—	−62B	−71N	−85B	−95N	F	+107N	−81B	1.0	12.0	12.0	0.00	926	0.0
103	FIDE 80881114	0	—	−101N	−64B	−?B	F	F	+88N	−45B	1.0	9.5	9.5	2.00	1311	0.0
104	FIDE 575005123	0	—	−17B	−78N	F	−91B	F	−45N	−79B	0.0	15.0	15.0	0.00	778	0.0
105	FIDE 575005190	0	—	−37B	F	F	−35N	−71B	F	−60N	0.0	14.0	14.0	0.00	735	0.0
106	FIDE 575005263	0	—	F	−19N	−31B	F	F	−90N	−59B	0.0	13.5	13.5	0.00	784	0.0
107	FIDE 80855288	0	—	−24N	−46B	F	F	−77N	−102B	−94B	0.0	13.0	13.0	0.00	725	0.0
108	Bandaranayake, Ravindu	1599	SRI	F	−84N	−88B	−78N	F	F	F	0.0	6.5	6.5	0.00	640	-56.8
109	FIDE 575005158	0	—	−65B	F	F	F	F	F	F	0.0	6.0	6.0	0.00	886	0.0

Key insights

Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.

Top rating gainers

1Hewawasam, VishalSRI
+106.4
5.0 pts · #18
2Guruge, PunsanduSRI
+47.6
4.5 pts · #36
3Gamage, ThanushkaSRI
+47.6
3.0 pts · #26

Top rating losers

1Pitigala, Chandra Sudarman S.SRI
-64.0
3.0 pts · #65
2Abeysekara, A ESRI
-59.2
3.5 pts · #35
3Bandaranayake, RavinduSRI
-56.8
0.0 pts · #76

Biggest upsets

R1+322 Elo gap
Nanayakkara, N W P K W1455 beat Jeyanthan, Krishna Rahul1777
R1+298 Elo gap
Gamage, Thanushka1487 beat Pitigala, Chandra Sudarman S.1785
R7+295 Elo gap
Peiris, Dileepa Dilshan1490 beat Pitigala, Chandra Sudarman S.1785