Career
Chosen as the wicket keeper for the 1993 home Test series against South Africa he made his debut in the first match without making much of an impression, keeping solidly behind the wickets while making seven in his only turn at batting. Promoted up the batting order in an effort to negate the South African fast bowlers in the last match of the series he stepped up bravely, but was ineffective, making only eight runs in the process. Although he was the first choice wicket keeper for Sri Lanka from 1993 to 1994, the selectors soon realised that his batting was not up to international standards and he was subsequently dropped for the tour of New Zealand in 94/95 season.
He continued to play First Class cricket in Sri Lanka, and made a return onto the international scene with the Sri Lanka "A" team in 1998.
Since then he has played for Canada in the Interstate Commerce Commission Trophy averaging 15.20 with the bat and accounting for eight dismissals (5 catches/3 stumpings). On 29 August 2007 he was named as permanent coach of Canada, having been in temporary charge since June, replacing Andy Pick.
Following the world cup, Dassanayake elected not to renew his contract with Cricket Canada. Cricket Association Nepal (CAN) appointed him as the coach of National team on August 23, 2011, for six months.
Fellow Sri Lankan Roy Dias coached Nepal for 9 years before leaving in 2011.Dassanayake has been a prolific sculptor in shaping Nepalese cricket.
On his coaching Nepal has clinched Icc world cricket league division 3. So far Dassannayake has been true to his words about Nepalese cricket. 3 years back he had mentioned in a press conference at the Tribhuwan international"l airport that he would make Nepal play ODI world cup so far on his coaching, Nepal has made a place in the T20 world cup held at Bangladesh a year back.
He believed of Nepal being in division l but Nepal could only manage not being relegated from division 2.under his coaching Nepal will be playing the world cup cricket league with the associate teams.
In October 2015, Dassanayake stepped down as Nepal coach, citing personal reasons, ending his four year tenure in the role. His last game was against Papua New Guinea on 16 and 18 November 2015.