By Revatha Silva Photo Pradeep Dambarage The Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) are conducting its 103rd version of the Sri Lanka National Tennis Championship at its hard courts from 18th August to 2nd September 2018, the SLTA announced the media on Monday, August 20 at the SLTA headquarters at Green Path, Colombo. It is the premier tournament listed on the SLTA Tournament Calendar attracting all the top-ranked junior and senior players of the country, generating much enthusiasm amongst spectators as well as the media. EVENTS Open   - Men’s Singles / Doubles Women’s Singles / Doubles Mixed Doubles Wheelchair – Singles / Doubles Junior – Under-12 Singles / Doubles - Girls & Boys Under-14 Singles / Doubles - Girls & Boys Under-16 Singles / Doubles - Girls & Boys Under-18 Singles / Doubles - Girls & Boys Senior – Over-35, 45, 55 and 65 Singles / Doubles LEADING PLAYERS – Janali Manamperi and Sharmal Dissanayake have been top-seeded in Women’s and Men’s Open Singles respectively at this year’s Tennis Nationals. In Women’s Singles, none of the three former champions, Amritha Muttiah, Thisuri Molligoda or last year’s winner Medhira Samarasinghe, is taking part in the Nationals this year creating an opportunity for a new Sri Lanka champion to emerge. Muttiah is retired from competitive tennis while Molligoda has left for USA for her higher studies. Samarasinghe, meanwhile, is reportedly sitting her Advanced Level examination this year. But the Men’s Singles will be of great significance this year as four-time champion Dineshkanthan Thangarajah will face stiff challenge from last two years’ champion Dissanayake. Among the top-seeds this time are the runners-up of last two years, Sankha Atukorale and Yasitha de Silva, both Davis Cup players with Sri Lanka National colours. SPONSORS – SLTA President Iqbal Bin Issack said they were happy to announce that Nationals Savings Bank (NSB) has come forward to sponsor this year’s Nationals together with Dialog (www.thepapare.com) and Brown & Company Plc, the producers of ‘100 PLUS’ energy drink. The International Tennis Federation certified ball, ‘Dunlop Fort Elite’ is the official ball for the tournament. Ralhum Trading Co. Ltd. is the sole agents for Dunlop. Dharaka Ellawala, an ITF Silver Badge qualified official, is the Referee for this year’s Nationals. The readers can visit … http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=9F2A11D4-5EB4-411F-B5E1-09497DC9577F  … for all details and updates of this year’s Sri Lanka Tennis Nationals. FORMER CHAMPIONS – SL National Women’s Champions: (Since year 2000) 2000 – Vajira Premaratne 2001 – Shalini Pereira 2002 – Dinali de Silva 2003 – Thiyumi Abeysinghe 2004 – Udanthie Narahenpitage 2005-08 – Jithmie Jayawickrema 2009-14 – Amritha Muttiah 2015 & 16 – Thisuri Molligoda 2017 – Medhira Samarasinghe SL National Men’s Champions (Since year 2000) 2000 – Dinuka Ranaweera 2001 – Renouk Wijemanne 2002 & 03 – Franklyn Emmanuel 2004 – Wincent Ligard (France) 2005 & 06 – Harshana Godamanna 2007 – Amrit Rupasinghe 2008-10 – Harshana Godamanna 2011-13 – Thangarajah Dineshkanthan 2014 – Heera Ashiq (Pakistan) 2015 – Thangarajah Dineshkanthan 2016 & 17 – Sharmal Dissanayake