The world's tallest netballer will call Perth home for two months thanks to the State Government and community generosity.
At 2.06m (6ft 9in), Sri Lankan Tharjini Sivalingam towers 10cm over Australia's tallest player, West Coast Fever's Susan Fuhrmann.
But in terms of experience, Sivalingam is still relatively raw after leaving her home in the northern Jaffna region to move south to the capital, Colombo.
She captains the national team, which is determined to gain a place in the world's top 12 and earn Commonwealth Games representation in Glasgow in 2014.
The visit by the Sri Lankan team is the brainchild of AIS coach Sue Gaudion, who was able to garner local support within netball circles, as well as the State Government and WA's Sri Lankan community, to help fund the trip.
Gaudion, who has been working with the team as a consultant coach, said Sri Lanka's success would depend on their ability to get regular, quality competition.
"The assistance they have received has been phenomenal and the exposure they will get from training and playing in the No.1 netball nation cannot be quantified," Gaudion said.
"The fate of the team lies in the hands of national coach Hyacinth Wesinghje, but this is their big opportunity."
Gaudion said the potential in the team was extraordinary but Sivalingam was the jewel because of her height and ability to shoot from just 12cm under the ring.
Thirty-year-old Sivalingam's greatest asset was her accuracy and determination.
Fuhrmann said it was rare to stand opposite someone taller than her. "It is a challenge facing up to a player like this but I am up for it," she said.
"The key for this team is to develop the feeders to deliver the ball to her and that is what Sue (Gaudion) has been working on. With a few years of good coaching they should be unstoppable.
"The only way of possibly stopping her is with a chair lift. The only team that has mastered that is the (Northern) Mystics in the trans-Tasman championship."
Sivalingam is surprised how willing Australian players are to win possession.
"Back in Sri Lanka I have no problem getting the ball," she said.
"Here I have to fight with the others to get possession. The biggest difference playing and training here is the speed of the game, the expectation of the coaches and the technical knowledge of the players."
West Coast Fever have a bye this weekend. DID YOU KNOW? 2.06m The height of the world's tallest netball player
© West Australian Newspapers Limited 2026
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