News

Renown Football Academy sponsors the All Island Under 18 Schools Football Championship for the eighth consecutive year

Published

3 years ago

November 5, 2023

Editor

M.H.Yakeem

Twenty teams will battle it out for the All Island under 18 Division 1 Boys Schools Football Championship 2023, sponsored by Renown Football Academy, organized and conducted by the Sri-Lanka Schools Football Association, under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Education.

Renown Football Academy, founded by Robert Peiris is sponsoring this tournament for the 8th consecutive year. They are also sponsoring the Girls under 18 tournament and the Boys under 18 division 2 tournament as well, where nearly more than 30 Girls schools and 100 plus Boys schools are expected to participate.

The Academy’s main vision is to guide and support the younger generation on the right path with the basics of the sport from the grassroots level. That is why when most sponsors backed off due to the financial crisis in the country the Academy sponsored almost all of the schools’ football tournaments for 2022 including the All Island Under 14 Boys and Girls, Under 16 Boys and Girls, Under 18 Boys and Girls and under 20 Girls Schools Football Championships considering the kids who had trained for a year would have missed out on the main tournament in the schools football calendar. Our long-term goal is to provide a career pathway through football by working together with the relevant authorities and corporate sponsors explained Sritharan Peeris, President of the Renown Football Academy at the press briefing held at the Sports Ministry Complex, Torrington Square, Colombo – 07 on the 14th of October 2023.

The 20 teams, who are eligible to play in the Division 1 tournament are divided into 4 groups and the matches will be played on a league basis. The top 2 teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-final.

Muslim Central College Kalutara, St. Joseph’s College Colombo, De Mazenod College Kandana, Dharmadutha College Badulla, and St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya are drawn in the group ” A “, Hameed Al Husseinie College Colombo, St. Benedict’s College Kotahena, Royal College Colombo, Maris Stella College Negombo, and Maliyadeva Model School Kurunegala are drawn in group ” B “, Wesley College Colombo, Zahira College Colombo, St. Henry’s College Jaffna, Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, and Lumbini College Colombo are drawn in group ” C “, Jaffna Central College, Al Aqsa National School Kinniya, St. Patrick’s College Jaffna, Al Hikma College Colombo, and St. Mary’s College Negombo are drawn in group ” D “.

The teams will be Captained by P.Dineth Vishmitha ( St. Joseph’s College Colombo ), A.M. Athiq ( Dharmadutha College Badulla ), M. Adeesha Dewthilina Dias ( De Mazenod College Kandana ), W.M. Kavisha Nethmal Fernando ( St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya), Rufan Akmal ( Muslim Central College Kalutara ), Mohamed Fazlan ( Hameed Al Husseinie College Colombo ), Nichol Aaron De Croos ( Maris Stella College Negombo ), Inuka Nonis ( Royal College Colombo ), Magage Tharindra Adithya Perera ( St. Benedict’s College Colombo ), D.M. Onija Wathsuka ( Malyadeva Model School Kurunegala ), F.R. Fareeq Ahamed ( Zahira College Colombo ), Akeesha Rashmika (Lumbini College Colombo ), Abdul Haadi (Wesley College Colombo ), Sri Muralitharan Johanan ( St. Henry’s College Jaffna ), Nimna Sandew Karunasinghe ( Maliyadeva College Kurunegala ), Uvanthirarasa Yalarasan( Jaffna Central College ), Calistus Siyam ( St. Patrick’s College Jaffna ), Kaveen Lashan ( St. Mary’s College Negombo ), Mohamed Shahid ( Al Hikma College Colombo ), Mohamed Sammi (Al Aqsa National School Kinniya ).

Caption

The Captains of the under 18 division 1 Schools Football teams with the President of the Renown Football Academy, Sritharan Peeris, Sri-Lanka Schools Football Association Secretary, U.M.S. Dissanayake and other school officials

Cricket

ICC Team to Visit Sri Lanka Amid Cricket Administration Shake-Up

Published

9 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Editor

A delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC), including a senior representative linked to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka this weekend as attention grows over recent changes to the country’s cricket administration.

According to India’s Press Trust of India (PTI), ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja is expected in Colombo on Friday night, with another top ICC official who also serves in a leading capacity within the BCCI due to arrive on Saturday.

The visit comes in the wake of the Sri Lankan government’s decision to appoint an interim committee to manage the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) following the resignation of its leadership.

Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage confirmed during a televised interview that discussions with ICC representatives are expected to take place in the coming days regarding the future direction of cricket administration in the country.

The newly appointed nine-member interim body was established on April 29 after SLC President Shammi Silva and members of the Executive Committee stepped down from office.
Government officials say the temporary panel will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day cricket operations, introducing administrative reforms, and preparing the groundwork for fresh elections within Sri Lanka Cricket.

The ICC visit is expected to focus on governance issues, the transition process, and the stability of cricket administration during the interim period.

Cricket

LPL 2026 Opening Game between Jaffna and Galle

Published

9 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Editor

The inaugural game of the Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played between the Jaffna and Galle teams, who emerged as the Champions and Runners-up respectively in the 2024 season.

The opening game is scheduled to be played on 17th July at the SSC Grounds, commencing at
7.30 p.m.

Prior to the start of the tournament opener, a spectacular opening ceremony will be held at the SSC Grounds in Colombo.
The Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played from 17th July to 8th August across four venues: SSC, Colombo; RDICS, Dambulla; PICS, Pallekele; and RPICS, Colombo.

The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the owner of the LPL, in partnership with The IPG Group, the event rights holder.

Cricket

RCB Bring in Gleeson After Thushara Exit; CSK Add Kuldip as Injury Cover

Published

10 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Editor

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have roped in experienced England pacer Richard Gleeson as a replacement for Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara ahead of the IPL 2026 Knockouts.

Thushara was unable to join the Bengaluru franchise after failing to secure a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket. The board reportedly withheld approval because the pacer did not meet the required fitness benchmarks set by the national setup.

RCB have signed Gleeson for INR 1.6 crore. The 38-year-old seamer brings previous IPL experience, having represented both Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in recent seasons. Gleeson featured in two matches for Chennai in 2024 and made a single appearance for Mumbai in the 2025 campaign. He has also represented England in nine T20 Internationals.

Thushara, who was bought by RCB for the same amount in 2025, played one game during the franchise’s championship-winning run last season. Despite being retained for IPL 2026, his participation was blocked after the NOC issue emerged.

The Sri Lankan quick had initially taken legal action against the cricket board regarding the matter, but later withdrew the case and issued a written apology. Court documents reportedly indicated that Thushara had considered stepping away from international cricket, although no final decision on his future has yet been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings have announced Indian pacer Kuldip Yadav as a replacement for injured left-arm fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed.

Khaleel’s season was cut short after he suffered a right quadricep injury during Chennai’s clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. Before the setback, he had claimed two wickets in five appearances while maintaining an economy rate of 8.67.

Kuldip, a right-arm pacer, previously represented Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, making three appearances across the 2021 and 2023 seasons. Chennai have secured his services for INR 30 lakh.

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