LSR brings famed Copa Simha to Sri Lanka
View(s):Lanka Sportreizen (LSR), the country’s leading organisation sporting and sports tourism promoter, will partner with SingaCup, a Singapore-based youth football advocate, to launch Copa Simha in Sri Lanka. LSR’s newest or rather first youth sporting initiative is scheduled to take place in Colombo on April 25 and 26, featuring competition in the Under-12 Boys Category, while welcoming teams from Sri Lanka as well as aborad.
As an entity that promotes tourism through sports in Sri Lanka, LSR has played a pivotal role in the planning, coordination, and successful execution of major sporting events for nearly two decades. The LSR Colombo Marathon, attracting thousands of local and international long distance runners, Sri Lanka T-Cup Coast-to-Coast Road Cycling Event, Rumble in the Jungle Mountain Bike Championship, and multiple international and domestic surfing events held across Sri Lanka’s coastal belt, are a few events LSR organise, conduct and promote the country through sports tourism on an annual basis.
“All these events have been managed to the required international standards with a strong emphasis on professionalism, safety, and positive stakeholder collaboration. By hosting Copa Simha, LSR would follow the same protocols and standards, to meet the criteria of our partners, SingaCup of Singapore and the country’s football federation, who are very supportive to this cause,” stated Thilak Weerasinghe, the Chairman of Lanka Sportreizen.
LSR's Thilak Weerasinghe (L) and Selvakumar Panneerselvam of SingaCup
Aligned with its long-term strategy of promoting Sri Lanka as a competitive and attractive sports tourism destination, LSR continues to drive initiatives that contribute to youth development, cultural exchange, and economic impact. The organisation gets actively involved in bringing international athletes and supporters to the country while strengthening Sri Lanka’s positioning within the global sports ecosystem.
“This is an initiative made in 2011 in Singapore and this year will be our 16th edition. Football is a sport that has no boundaries and open to any person, help form new friendship and unite different communities. This is a partnership that could grow to become a fruitful one, productive and beneficial for the young athletes who will become part of this,” Selvakumar Panneerselvam, the Managing Director of SingaCup told reporters in Colombo.
The SingaCup is one of the annual and main sporting attractions in Singapore, a country that has already gained fame and recognition for hosting the Singapore F1, World Rugby 7s Series, Singapore Triathlon and Singapore Table Tennis Smash. The SingaCup has gained the same recognition as any other international sporting event hosted by Singapore, for helping young footballers shape their talents and reach international standards with the exposure it provides.
“The SingaCup has gone beyond Singapore by now, and Sri Lanka will the latest addition to join the list of over 15 countries. The winner of Copa Simha from Sri Lanka will join our main tournament in Singapore to be held in November later this year,” Selvakumar added.
Copa Simha will now become part of LSR’s 2026 sports calendar. The Under-12 Boys Football Tournament, designed to provide young athletes with valuable international exposure, competitive match play, and opportunities for cross-cultural engagement, will then become an annual event that would grow beyond its initial status.
“Beyond performances on the pitch, LSR aims to encourage grassroots football growth, uplift youth sporting standards, and foster lasting relationships between Sri Lankan and international football communities. Yes, it will feature local teams from across the country, but in time to come we hope to elevate Copa Simha to an international event that would see unearth future football stars,” Weerasinghe elaborated.
Hosted in Colombo — a city known for its rich sporting heritage, hospitality, and accessibility — Copa Simha will be conducted in accordance with recognised football regulations and will place priority on fair play, safety, and positive sporting values. LSR will oversee match scheduling, field coordination, ground maintenance, security, medical services, and full event management to ensure a seamless aligned tournament experience.
At last year's SingaCup Experience held in Dambulla
“LSR recognises that youth football is about more than competition, it represents character-building, learning, and inspiration. Through Copa Simha, LSR aims to shape confident, disciplined, and globally minded young athletes while strengthening Sri Lanka’s reputation as a welcoming and competitive destination for international youth sport.”
Before unveiling Copa Simha earlier this week, LSR and SingaCup joined forces to introduce their newly formed affiliation with the SingaCup Football Experience in Dambulla last year. The inaugural SingaCup Football Experience brought together 100 schoolchildren from Pohoranwewa Junior School, Theladinnath Wewa Junior School, and Rathmalgahaela Junior School for a professional football training session. Attended by coaches from Singapore, families, and community members, the event not only inspired young athletes but also underscored the power of sport as a catalyst for development, cultural exchange, and tourism. Building on this momentum, the foundation was laid to see Sri Lanka host Copa Simha, a brand promoted by SingaCup.
Since 2011, SingaCup has established itself as the premier international youth football tournament in Asia, providing a platform for young talents to showcase their skills, compete at the highest level, and build friendships across borders.