Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan for the upcoming South Asian Football Federation Championship, which will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 1st to the 11th of September.
The draw ceremony took place on 30 July 2013 at Kathmandu’s Soaltee Crowne Plaza which was attended by a host of dignitaries including ANFA Chairman Ganesh Thapa, SAFF President Kazi Salahuddin, Secretary Alberto Colaco and National Sports Council Member-Secretary Yubaraj Lama. This will be the 10th edition of the SAFF Championship and the second time Nepal are hosting the tournament, the last being in 1997.
The main venue for the tournament is the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium. The Sri Lankan team with the new national team management and the Brazilian Coaching staff Claudio Roberto the head coach and Junior, the Assistant will be arriving in Nepal after a 3 week training in Thailand which includes a couple of friendly and training matches. Defending champions India have been drawn to begin their campaign against archrivals Pakistan on the opening day of the tournament. The semifinals are slated for September 8 while and the final for September 11.
| Group A | Group B |
| India (146) Bangladesh (152) Pakistan (167) Nepal (169) |
Afghanistan (140) Maldives (154) Sri Lanka (171) Bhutan (207) |
(FIFA Rankings of the teams at the start of the tournament)
Fixtures (all timings in IST):
Sep 1: India vs. Pakistan (3.15pm); Nepal vs. Bangladesh (6.15pm)
Sep 2: Afghanistan vs. Bhutan (3.15pm); Maldives vs. Sri Lanka (6.15pm)
Sep 3: Pakistan vs. Nepal (3.15pm); Bangladesh vs. India (6.15pm)
Sep 4: Bhutan vs. Maldives (3.15pm); Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan (6.15pm)
Sep 5: India vs. Nepal (3.15pm); Bangladesh vs. Pakistan (6.15pm)
Sep 6: Afghanistan vs. Maldives (3.15pm); Sri Lanka vs. Bhutan (6.15pm)
Sep 8: Semi-final (winner Group A vs. runners-up Group B) (3.15pm); winner Group B vs. runners-up Group A (6.15pm)
Sep 11: Final
