The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), under the guidance of President Shammi Silva, has taken a significant step to elevate school cricket by promoting thre-day school cricket matches instead of the two-day encounters.
As part of this initiative, SLC has pledged financial grants to 56 schools to facilitate their annual big matches as three-day games. Previously, only three schools played their big matches over three days, while all others were limited to two days. However, with this decision, 28 big matches will now be played as three-day encounters, marking a new era for school cricket, starting from the ongoing season.
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This initiative, carried out in collaboration with the Sri Lanka School Cricket Association, aims to provide young cricketers with greater match exposure, enhance their skill development, and create a smoother transition to first-class and international cricket.
Further strengthening this initiative, SLC has also extended the three-day match format to the U19 School Cricket competition. As a result, the knockout stages of the U19 Division I and II (both Tier A and B) will now be played as three-day matches instead of two-day games.
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Sri Lanka boasts a vibrant school cricket system, with over 6,800 matches played annually across U13, U15, U17, and U19 levels. SLC fully funds these tournaments as part of its commitment to nurturing the next generation of cricketers.
This initiative reflects SLC’s long-term commitment to strengthening grassroots cricket and ensuring a solid foundation for future national players.
Below are the schools receiving grants to conduct three-day big matches:
| 1. S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia |
| 2. Trinity College, Kandy |
| 3. St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa |
| 4. D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo |
| 5. Royal college, Colombo |
| 6. St. Anthony’s College, Kandy |
| 7. Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa |
| 8. St. Servatius’ College, Matara |
| 9. Mahanama College, Colombo |
| 10. Richmond College, Galle |
| 11. Gurukula College, Kelaniya |
| 12. Nalanda College, Colombo |
| 13. Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala |
| 14. St. Peter’s College, Colombo |
| 15. St. Joseph’s College, Colombo |
| 16. St. Thomas’ College, Matara |
| 17. Mahinda College, Galle |
| 18. Ananda College, Colombo |
| 19. St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala |
| 20. Moratu Maha Vidyalaya |
| 21. Thurstan College, Colombo |
| 22. Dharmaraja College, Kandy |
| 23. St. Sebastian’s Central College, Katuneriya |
| 24. Devapathiraja College, Rathgama |
| 25. Sri Sumangala College, Panadura |
| 26. Isipathana College, Colombo |
| 27. Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya |
| 28. St. Peter’s College, Negombo |
| 29. Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya |
| 30. St. John’s College, Jaffna |
| 31. Rahula College, Matara |
| 32. Kingswood College, Kandy |
| 33. P De S Kularathne College, Ambalangoda |
| 34. Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalle |
| 35. CMS Sri Jayawardhanapura MV, Kotte |
| 36. Anuradhapura Central College |
| 37. Jaffna Central College |
| 38. St. Mary’s College, Kegalle |
| 39. St. Thomas’ College, Kotte |
| 40. Royal Central College, Polonnaruwa |
| 41. Sri Rahula College, Katugasthota |
| 42. Sir John Kothalawala College, Kurunegala |
| 43. Maliyadeva Model School, Kurunegala |
| 44. Prince College, Ratnapura |
| 45. Sri Sumangala College, Kandy |
| 46. Wayamba Royal College, Kurunegala |
| 47. Ibbagamuwa Central College |
| 48. St. Aloysius’ College, Ratnapura |
| 49. St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna |
| 50. Mahinda Rajapaksha College, Homagama |
| 51. Wickramashila National School, Giriulla |
| 52. Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai |
| 53. Defense Service College, Colombo |
| 54. D.S. Senanayaka Central College, Mirigama |
| 55. Holy Trinity College, Nuwara Eliya |
| 56. Gamini National School, Nuwara Eliya |
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