Dialog renews commitment to School Rugby as 2025 season gears up
View(s):Unlike in previous years, where the school rugby season began with the League Tournament followed by the Knockout Tournament, this year’s season kicks off with 16 top schools competing for the prestigious President’s Trophy, which commenced on Friday. This will be followed by the League, which will see over 2,500 players from 90 schools vying for the coveted Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 title.
Lasantha Theverapperuma (centre) (Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC) handing over the cheque to Kamal Ariyasinghe, (President of SLSRA and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education). Also in presence are Harsha Samaranayake (Vice President Brand and Media, Dialog Axiata PLC) and SLSRFA rpresentatives Chanaka Dhananjaya (Treasurer), Manuja Nimmana (Secretary) and Nirodha Wijerama (Secretary, All Tournaments)
This year’s Knockout Tournament will feature the finest of Sri Lanka’s school rugby talent, with matches taking place across multiple venues in Colombo. The action, which began on Friday with two pre-quarter-final fixtures saw Wesley College take on St. Joseph’s College at Royal Complex, and Dharmaraja College locking honrs with D.S. Senanayake College at Longdon Place Grounds.
Yesterday, a thrilling line-up of four fixtures took place with CR&FC grounds at Longdon Place hosting two games. S. Thomas’ College faced off Science College at 3:30pm, followed by the clash between Trinity College and St. Anthony’s College at 6:30pm, under lights. Zahira College went go up against Vidyartha College at Havelock Park, while Sri Sumangala College, Kandy took on defending champions Isipathana College at Royal Complex.
The tournament’s opening weekend will conclude today with St. Peter’s College playing Thurstan College at Royal Complex, and Royal College meeting Kingswood College at Longdon Place, with both encounters scheduled to kickoff at 4:15pm.
The quarter-finals will be played on May 3 and 4, with semi-finals scheduled for May 9 and 11. The tournament will culminate in the grand finale on May 18 at the Sugathadasa Stadium, where a new champion will be crowned.
As the principal sponsor, Dialog has made arrangements for the live broadcast of the tournament on Dialog Television via ThePapare TV (Channel 62 and 63) and ThePapare TV HD (Channel 126 and 127).
“In line with our steadfast commitment to powering the champions of tomorrow, we are pleased to partner with the Schools Rugby Season 2025, one of the most highly anticipated events in the school sports calendar. We extend our best wishes to SLSRFA and all the participating schoolboys for the 2025 season,” remarked Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC.
“While thanking Dialog for the continuous support over a number of years powering both the league and knockouts, this tournament enables student athletes to follow their dreams by representing national-level rugby. We hope that this year’s tournament will be played with great spirit and remembered for moments of great sportsmanship displayed throughout the tournament. All the best to all participants in the Dialog Schools Rugby Season 2025,” stated Kamal Ariyasinghe, President of SLSRFA.