Dialog Renews Commitment to School Rugby as 2025 Season Gears Up

Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC handing over the Cheque to Kamal Ariyasinghe, President of the Schools Rugby Association and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education. Photographed from Left to Right: Chanaka Dhananjaya, Treasurer, Schools Rugby Association; Harsha Samaranayake, Vice President - Brand and Media, Dialog Axiata PLC; Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC; Kamal Ariyasinghe, President of the Schools Rugby Association and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education; Manuja Nimmana, Secretary, Schools Rugby Association; Nirodha Wijerama, All Tournament Secretary, Schools Rugby Association.

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider and prolific promoter of sports, has once again joined hands with the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association to power the Dialog Under-19 School Rugby Season for 2025.

Unlike previous years, where the school rugby season began with the League Tournament followed by the Knock-Out Tournament, this year’s season kicks off with sixteen top schools competing for the prestigious President's Trophy, commencing on 25 April 2025. 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 2025 title.

This year’s Knock-Out Tournament will feature the finest of Sri Lanka’s school rugby talent, with matches taking place across multiple venues in Colombo.

The action begins on25 April with two pre-quarter fixtures. Wesley College will take on St. Joseph’s College at Royal Grounds, while Dharmaraja College meets D.S. Senanayake College at CR & FC Grounds. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.

On 26 April, spectators can look forward to a thrilling lineup of four fixtures. The day opens at CR & FC Grounds with S. Thomas’ College facing Science College at 3:30 p.m., followed by Trinity College clashing with St. Anthony’s College at 6:30 p.m. At the same time, Zahira College will go up against Vidyartha College at Havelock Grounds, while Sri Sumangala takes on defending champions Isipathana College at Royal Grounds. Both of these simultaneous matches are set to kick off at 4:15 p.m.

The tournament’s opening weekend concludes on 27 April with St. Peter’s College playing Thurstan College at Royal Grounds, and Royal College meeting Kingswood College at CR&FC Grounds. Both encounters are scheduled for 4:15 p.m.

Quarter-finals will be held on the 3rd and 4th of May, with semi-finals scheduled for the 9th and 11th of May. The tournament will culminate in the grand finale on 18 May at 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 & 63) and ThePapare TV HD (Channel 126 & 127). Viewers can also tune in through Dialog ViU and ThePapare.com, ensuring that students, alumni, parents, supporters, and rugby fans across Sri Lanka can enjoy uninterrupted and comprehensive coverage.

"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," remarked Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC. "We extend our best wishes to SLSRFA and all the participating schoolboys for the 2025 season."

"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 the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA).

Dialog is the proud sponsor of the national cricket, volleyball, netball, and esports teams. Dialog is also the primary sponsor of the Sri Lanka Golf Open and Paralympic sports, powering the National Para Games and the Sri Lankan contingent to the World Paralympic Games. Furthermore, in line with its commitment to empowering the champions of tomorrow, the company continues to support the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball Tournaments, and School Rugby.