Colombo, 26 August 2026 – The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC Sri Lanka) participated in the South Asia Olympic Council (SAOC) Executive Committee meeting in Islamabad, where preparations for the 14th South Asian Games were reviewed and the Games were confirmed to take place from 3 to 11 April 2027 across Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar.

 

The meeting, held in Islamabad 23rd and 24th of August 2026, brought together representatives of the National Olympic Committees of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. India participated virtually, while representatives of the other participating countries attended in person.

 

Accordingly, NOC Sri Lanka was represented at the meeting by its Treasurer, Lt. Col. (Retd) Ajith Siyambalapitiya. 

 

The revised dates follow the earlier decision taken in January 2026 to stage the Games from 23 to 31 March 2027, with the Pakistan Olympic Association having been given flexibility to make adjustments to the schedule, within the agreed parameters, where required for operational or logistical reasons.

 

The meeting was chaired by SAOC President and Pakistan Olympic Association President Mr. Arif Saeed and focused on the progress of preparations for the Games, including venues, accommodation, transportation, Games-time services and coordination mechanisms.

 

Following the meeting and the review of preparations, NOC Sri Lanka President Mr. Asanga Seneviratne commended Pakistan’s progress and expressed confidence in its ability to deliver a world-class edition of the South Asian Games.

 

President Seneviratne noted that Pakistan is set to host a world-class event, commending SAOC President and Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Saeed for putting together a formidable organisational team with the full backing of the Government of Pakistan. He also highlighted the world-class infrastructure presented at the venues and described the meeting as a landmark event, with representatives from across the region coming together to assess preparations.

 

The 14th South Asian Games will feature 28 sports and 346 medal events, with approximately 3,200 athletes expected to compete. Women’s competitions are planned in 25 sports, while total participation, including athletes, officials and other members of the regional sporting community, is expected to reach approximately 4,200.

 

The 28 sports on the programme are Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Billiards and Snooker, Boxing, Cricket, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Karate, Rowing, Rugby, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Wushu.

 

The SAOC delegation also reviewed preparations at competition venues across Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar, with organisers providing updates on infrastructure, facilities and ongoing improvements. The visit to Pakistan concluded with a visit by the SAOC Executive Committee delegation to the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad, where the representatives met Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, accompanied by SAOC President and Pakistan Olympic Association President Arif Saeed.

 

The 2027 edition will mark Pakistan’s return as host of the South Asian Games after a 23-year absence, following the country’s previous hosting of the event in Islamabad in 2004. The Games have experienced several postponements in recent years, making the progress towards the 2027 edition a significant milestone for South Asian sport.

 

With preparations now advancing across the three host cities, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka looks forward to continued cooperation with the South Asia Olympic Council, the Pakistan Olympic Association and fellow National Olympic Committees as the region prepares for the 14th South Asian Games in April 2027.

 

- End -