The Sri Lanka National Majors Chess Championship 2026 – Central Province delivered four days of thrilling competitive chess at Junior School, Thalathuoya from February 14 to 17, 2026. Organized by the Kandy District Chess Association, the tournament brought together some of the best players from the Central Province, all vying for vital qualifying spots to the National B Championship.
The tournament was directed by Mr. R S Kalugampitiya as Tournament Director, with IA Sanjula Ravinath serving as Chief Arbiter and NA R S Padmasiri and D M U L P B Dissan among the supporting arbiters. The Open category was contested over 8 rounds while the Women’s category was played over 7 rounds, both under the Swiss System format with the standard FIDE time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per move from move 1, with full international rating calculation.
Open Category: FM Chinthaka Anuruddh Galappaththi Claims a Dominant Title
In a field averaging a rating of 1490 and featuring players of genuine quality throughout, FM Chinthaka Anuruddh Galappaththi — the top seed entering at a rating of 1942 — lived up to his billing in impressive fashion. Finishing the tournament with 7 points from 8 rounds, he was a cut above the rest, never allowing the chasing pack to seriously threaten his position at the summit. His was a performance of controlled aggression and technical precision that befitted a Fide Master.
The battle for the remaining podium places was fierce. Minuja Hansana Godagampala G D claimed second place with 6.5 points, scoring consistently across all 8 rounds to finish as the best of the rest. Akitha Thennakoon matched his score of 6.5 points to take third on tie-break, completing a well-earned podium finish. R B A Chandrasiri was close behind in fourth with 6.5 points as well, making the top four a tightly contested group separated only by tie-break calculations.
Sasindu Dilsara Hettiarachchi and K G Wimalarathne both scored an even 6 points to claim fifth and sixth places respectively, while AFM Kenuth Lonitha Nawarathne, Banuja L Dunusinghe D A, and Udula Hansana Weerakoon H M all finished with 6 points to round out the top nine. Chamika Manuja Amarasinghe A A also scored 6 points for tenth place, underlining the remarkable competitiveness and depth throughout the Central Province Open field.
Women’s Category: T M Ashmeetha Seimi Triumphs in Kandy
The Women’s section over 7 rounds produced one of the most exciting title races of the Majors series, with the top spot only being settled deep into the final stages. T M Ashmeetha Seimi was the deserving champion, finishing with an impressive 6.5 points from 7 rounds — a score that reflected both her consistency and her ability to produce her best chess in critical moments. Her win over the second-seeded player in round 6 was a highlight of her campaign and helped seal her title-winning run.
H Methuli S Wijethunga, the second seed entering the tournament, gave Seimi a genuine run for her money, finishing as runner-up with 5.5 points in what was a competitive chase throughout. Udani Sawindya, the top seed with a rating of 1661, claimed third place on tie-break also with 5.5 points — a solid result, though she will feel she had more to offer over the course of the seven rounds.
Methuli Kodithuwakku took fourth place with 5.5 points, while G H S Sanulya and G W Nethmi L Fernando both finished with 5.5 points for fifth and sixth places respectively — another example of the tight clustering at the top that characterized the Women’s event. Yesandi Wickramaarachchi claimed seventh with 5 points, joined by Senudi Dharmathilake, W L Rehansa Dahami Liyanage, and V G E Ranasinghe in the top ten, all finishing on 5 points in a keenly fought competition throughout the field.
The Kandy District Chess Association and the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka deserve recognition for organizing a smooth and competitive event in the heart of the hill country. The efforts of Tournament Director Mr. R S Kalugampitiya, Chief Arbiter IA Sanjula Ravinath, and the full arbitration team ensured that proceedings ran efficiently across all four days.
Congratulations to all the champions, prize winners, and every participant who competed in the Sri Lanka National Majors Chess Championship 2026 – Central Province. We wish all our qualifiers every success as they carry the Central Province flag into the National B Championship. The journey continues — keep pushing, keep improving! ♟️
