SLC Appoints Hashan Tillakaratne as Senior Men Batting Coach

Former Sri Lanka international Hashan Tillakaratne has been appointed as the batting coach of the Senior Men Program by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The former pro-batter will train the national team players at the SLC National High Performance Center, as the country continues to build its batting strength. Sri Lanka Cricket named Hashan Tillakaratne Sri Lanka batting coach with effect from 20 August 2026.

Tillakaratne will assume the role immediately, and will serve until December 31, 2027. His rich experience as an international cricketer and coach is likely to be of great help to Sri Lanka senior men team in all formats.The 59-year-old has coached at various levels including with Sri Lanka men.

Hashan Tillakaratne Returns to Sri Lanka Coaching Setup

Tillakaratne is not a new name in the Sri Lankan national set up. The former international batsman has previously coached the batting of the Sri Lanka men team and has an understanding of the technical and tactical requirements of the top batters of the country.

His new role will take him to the National High Performance Center, where he will closely work with the top players and help prepare and develop them.

The position is especially important as Sri Lanka continues to groom its next generation of international players, and supports the consistency of its established stars at the highest level.

Extensive Coaching Experience

Tillakaratne has a wealth of coaching experience to bring to the job. Prior to this, he coached at both international and national levels in a variety of roles.He has previously coached Sri Lanka men team in batting.

These experiences have given Tillakaratne a taste of various playing fields and generations of cricketers. His return to the Sri Lankan men team gives the national side a coach who has a good understanding of the Sri Lankan cricket system as a player and a coach.

Coaching Career: Sri Lanka Men, Sri Lanka Women and Bangladesh Women

Hashan Tillakaratne brings rich coaching experience from three national teams into his new role. He served as batting coach of the Sri Lanka men team in an earlier stint, and that return to the same programme gives him strong knowledge of the system.

He then led the Sri Lanka women team as head coach in 2021 and 2022. After that, he guided the Bangladesh women team as head coach until February 2025. His new stint as Sri Lanka batting coach began on 20 August 2026.

A Distinguished Playing Career

Tillakaratne was one of the leading batsmen of Sri Lanka emergence as a big power in international cricket. He played a total of 83 Tests and 200 ODIs for Sri Lanka, scoring over 8,200 international runs.

He also had one of the best achievements in Sri Lankan cricket. Tillakaratne played in Sri Lanka 1996 World Cup winning team.

Tillakaratne success in the 1996 victory may prove useful to the current Sri Lankan side and the 1996 achievement will be a defining moment in Sri Lankan cricket history. Hashan Tillakaratne scored 8,334 runs in international cricket across 83 Tests and 200 ODIs. He captained Sri Lanka in 11 Test matches. His highest Test score was 136 not out against India in Colombo in 2001.

Experience Across Men and Women Cricket

He also has experience working with Sri Lanka men, as he has previously worked with them at various stages of their careers.

His background may be of benefit to him in the batting programme of Sri Lanka, especially in the field of technical adjustments, game awareness and preparation for international competition.

Focus on the National High Performance Center

Tillakaratne signing positions him at the SLC National High Performance Center, which is a significant element in Sri Lanka player-development framework.

He has the opportunity to meet national team members and maybe future cricketers, who are training for international cricket in the high-performance environment.

Batting coach duties may involve assisting players in improving their technical skills, learning to bat against various types of bowling and preparing for match conditions.

Why the Appointment Matters for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka selection of an experienced international batter in the team is a sign of the importance of the batting department. In modern-day international cricket, players are required to make quick adjustments in varying conditions and situations of the matches, whether it is a Test match, ODI or T20 match.

Tillakaratne has a long international career, and thus had the experience of playing at the highest level of both Test and one-day cricket. His coaching experience is another layer to that experience.

His experience of playing and coaching may enable him to offer some useful suggestions to the current Sri Lankan batting line-up.

Link to Sri Lanka 1996 World Cup Generation

Tillakaratne selection also restores a member of the legendary 1996 World Cup winning team of Sri Lanka to a pivotal position in the country.

The 1996 team revolutionised Sri Lankan cricket and made the country a major player in international cricket. Those who played in that era have gone on to play a role in Sri Lankan cricket in coaching, administration and other development roles. That golden generation also included spin great Muttiah Muralitharan.

Tillakaratne own move from international player to coach is another testament to that generation continuing to make a contribution to the sport.

Contract Runs Until 2027

SLC has appointed Tillakaratne on a relatively long-term contract, which will run until December 31, 2027. He will have a chance to work on the long-term development of the batters, not just on individual series, with the length of the agreement.

A long-term contract might also enable the coach to develop rapport with existing players and determine what skills the youngsters require more practice on.

In Sri Lanka, a continuity of coaching might prove helpful as the team takes on a more challenging international schedule.

A New Chapter for Tillakaratne

The appointment is another milestone in the long cricketing career of Tillakaratne in Sri Lanka. He has been involved in football long after his playing days, serving as a member of the 1996 World Cup winning team, and coaching national teams.

His next job will be to assist the senior men team in the country to enhance their batting skills and get ready for international competitions.

Tillakaratne has a wealth of international experience, having scored over 8,200 runs and coached at the international level.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Hashan Tillakaratne as the batting coach of the Senior Men’s Program, bringing an experienced coach to the fold of the national team.

The former Sri Lanka batter has played 83 Tests and 200 ODIs, was part of the 1996 World Cup-winning team and has subsequently gained coaching experience with both men and women teams.

His immediate tenure, which will end in December 2027, provides Sri Lanka with a chance to gain from his experience for a longer time. Tillakaratne, who has been training at the National High Performance Center, will now concentrate on developing the batting skills of the top men players of Sri Lanka and prepare them for the rigors of international cricket.

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