Dialog powers 2026 Schools Rugby season
View(s):Dialog Axiata PLC has come aboard for the sixth consecutive year, joining hands with the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association to power the Dialog Schools Rugby Season of 2026. Following the success of last year, this season kicks off with the Knockout Tournament, featuring 16 top schools competing for the prestigious President’s Trophy, beginning on March 11. This will be followed by the League Tournament, which will see over 2,500 players from 90 schools vying for the coveted Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026 title.
The Knockout Tournament, as promised, showcased the finest school rugby talent in Sri Lanka, with matches held across multiple venues in Colombo. The tournament opened on March 11 with St. Peter’s College taking on Ananda College at Royal Sports Complex and Trinity College facing Thurstan College at Longdon Place, followed by the Wesley College vs Mahanama College clash on March 13 at the Royal Sports Complex.
Title sponsorship cheque being handed over by Lasantha Theverapperuma (Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata), to the President of Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association Buddhika Attanayake, along with Harsha Samaranayake (Vice President, Group Marketing, Dialog Axaiata) and Dilruk Jayawardana (Deputy Director, Sports Ministry of Education)
During that weekend, spectators were able to witness three thrilling pre-quarter fixtures, with Isipathana College facing Science College at Royal Sports Complex, St. Joseph’s College facing Kingswood College at Havelock Park, and D.S. Senanayake College locking horns with Zahira College at Longdon Place.
The action continued at Longdon Place where Royal College met St. Anthony’s College under lights at 7:15pm, after the game between S. Thomas’ College and Sri Sumangala College at Havelock Park. Upon completion of the pre-quarter-final games, the competition moved on to the quarter-finals on March 21 and 22, where St. Peter’s, Trinity, Wesley, Isipathana, St. Joseph’s, Zahira, Royal and S. Thomas’ made their way with equally emphatic wins.
The competition continued with the semi-finals on March 28 and 29 with Trinity overcoming Wesley and Royal dethroning defending champions Isipathana to reach the final, which saw the culmination with the grand finale yesterday at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
“In line with our steadfast commitment to powering the champions of tomorrow, we are pleased to partner with the Schools Rugby Season in 2026, one of the most highly anticipated events in the school sports calendar, We extend our best wishes to Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and all the participating schoolboys and schools for the 2026 season,” remarked Lasantha Theverapperuma, the Group Chief Marketing Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC.
As the principal sponsor, Dialog has ensured live coverage of the tournament on Dialog Television via ThePapare TV (Channels 62 and 63) and ThePapare TV HD (Channels 126 and 127). Viewers can also tune in through the Dialog Play Mobile APP and ThePapare.com, allowing students, alumni, parents, supporters, and rugby fans across Sri Lanka to enjoy uninterrupted and comprehensive coverage.
“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 true sportsmanship displayed throughout the tournament,” stated Buddika Attanayake, the newly appointed President of Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association.